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Improving Respite Outcomes for Caregivers: Who Benefits and Under What Conditions?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) pose a substantial caregiving burden in the United States, yet efforts to improve caregiver well-being have seen mixed results. We ask whether an app-based intervention ( N = 143) to prioritize caregiver respite can substantially improve the caregiving experience, and whether these benefits are moderated by (1) caregiver demographics and (2) conditions of the caregiving situation (such as baseline impairment). Constructing curvilinear growth models to assess changes over a 20-week period, we find significant improvements in the positive aspects of caregiving (PAC). Greater benefits accrue to women, lower-income households, caregivers with a college degree, and caregivers who provide ≥80% of care to their family member. No differences in PAC growth are detected for care recipient memory and behavior problems, caregiver age, or caregiver race. We conclude that efforts to improve caregiver well-being may be especially effective for disadvantaged groups, with the notable exception of educational attainment.

Source: Journal of Applied Gerontology

DOI: 10.1177/07334648251324270

Authors: Max E. Coleman, Donald A. Godfrey, Amber D. Thompson, Catharine Sparks, Rebecca L. Utz

Institution: University of Utah

Language: English

Topic: Nursing care and research

Subfield: Pharmacy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences