This competitive renewal application builds upon instrument development and findings from current research on """"""""settled"""""""" (4.5 years average) family caregivers of patients with; the physical impairments. Alzheimer's Disease, and Cancer in order to achieve the following two goals. First, to identify and inception cohort of 750 family members who are NEW to caregiving and to follow them over 18 months and compare those who persist with those who cease caregiving. Second, to describe and compare the dispositions of patients whose caregivers persist and cease (institutionalization in pursing homes and acute care settings, death, cared for by another family member or paid caregiver, recovery). Achieving these two goals will serve the following policy and theoretical ends. For policy, comparing the courses of patients whose caregivers cease with those who persist, controlling for difference in functional status and technology, will indicate how the loss of a caregiver impacts the costs and utilization of formal services; the potential to intervene early in the course of home care to maintain the family caregiver; and to describe how assumption of care by a NEW caregiver following receipt of skilled home care impacts the patient and that family member over time. For theory, this approach permits calculation of true rates of attrition, not just attrition among caregivers who have already survived to varying points in time, as most studies reported, and then to described which caregivers persists and compare their characteristics with those who cease using an event history technique. Finally, structural equation modeling will be used to arrange causal patterns of process and outcome variables for patients and caregivers over the 18 month observation period. In conclusion, this proposed work is a logical extension of current research and will allow this term to pursue and complete a comprehensive understanding of the trajectories of family caregivers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG006584-06
Application #
3117654
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Project Start
1986-05-01
Project End
1993-04-30
Budget Start
1991-05-01
Budget End
1992-04-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Sherwood, Paula R; Given, Charles W; Given, Barbara A et al. (2005) Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms: analysis of common outcomes in caregivers of elderly patients. J Aging Health 17:125-47
Given, C W; Given, B A; Stommel, M et al. (1999) The impact of new demands for assistance on caregiver depression: tests using an inception cohort. Gerontologist 39:76-85
Pohl, J M; Collins, C E; Given, C W (1998) Longitudinal employment decisions of daughters and daughters-in-law after assuming parent care. J Women Aging 10:59-74
Mickus, M; Stommel, M; Given, C W (1997) Changes in living arrangements of functionally dependent older adults and their adult children. J Aging Health 9:126-43
Barnes, C L; Given, B A; Given, C W (1995) Parent caregivers: a comparison of employed and not employed daughters. Soc Work 40:375-81
Pohl, J M; Boyd, C; Liang, J et al. (1995) Analysis of the impact of mother-daughter relationships on the commitment to caregiving. Nurs Res 44:68-75
Pohl, J M; Collins, C; Given, C W (1995) Beyond patient dependency: family characteristics and access of elderly patients to home care services following hospital discharge. Home Health Care Serv Q 15:33-47
Given, B A; Given, C W; Stommel, M et al. (1994) Predictors of use of secondary carers used by the elderly following hospital discharge. J Aging Health 6:353-76
Pohl, J M; Given, C W; Collins, C E et al. (1994) Social vulnerability and reactions to caregiving in daughters and daughters-in-law caring for disabled aging parents. Health Care Women Int 15:385-95
Barnes, C L; Given, B A; Given, C W (1992) Caregivers of elderly relatives: spouses and adult children. Health Soc Work 17:282-9

Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications