Work

Health Trajectories of Family Caregivers

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The study examines family caregivers' health changes over 1 year on four health dimensions and explores the association of differential health trajectories with adult day service (ADS) use and caregiving transitions. METHOD: The participants were 153 primary caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWDs) who provided information on care situations and their own health at baseline, 6-month, and 12-month interviews. RESULTS: Caregivers showed increasing functional limitations and decreasing bodily pain over time, whereas role limitation and general health perception remained stable. Furthermore, caregivers' trajectories of functional limitation were associated with their extent of ADS use at baseline and their relatives' placement. DISCUSSION: Health is multidimensional; all dimensions of caregiver health do not change in a uniform manner. The findings underscore the importance of the association of caregiving transitions and caregiver health and the potential health benefits of ADS use for family caregivers.

Source: Journal of Aging and Health

DOI: 10.1177/0898264314555319

Authors: Yin Liu, Kyungmin Kim, Steven H. Zarit

Institutions: Pennsylvania State University, The University of Texas at Austin

Language: English

Topic: Nursing care and research

Subfield: Pharmacy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging