US Prevalence And Predictors Of Informal Caregiving For Dementia

Abstract

In 2010, 5.5 million US adults ages seventy and older received informal care, including 3.6 million with cognitive impairment or probable dementia. Adults with probable dementia received 171 hours of monthly informal care, versus 89 and 66 hours for cognitively impaired without dementia and cognitively normal adults, respectively.

Keywords: Demography; Disparities; Elderly; Long-Term Care.

Figures

EXHIBIT 1

Number Of Community-Dwelling US Adults Ages 70 And Older Receiving Informal Care In The Past Month By Cognitive Status, 2010 SOURCE Authors’ analysis of data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study. NOTES The data are weighted using survey weights to represent the noninstitutionalized US population in 2010. Care refers to help with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living because of functional limitations.

EXHIBIT 3

The Relationship Of Community-Dwelling US Adults Ages 70 And Older Who Receive Informal Care To Informal Caregivers By Cognitive Status, 2010 SOURCE Authors’ analysis of data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study. NOTES The data (from 2,769 informal caregivers who provided help in the past month) are weighted using survey weights to represent the noninstitutionalized US population in 2010. Care refers to help with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living because of functional limitations.

EXHIBIT 5

The Predicted Probability (With 95 Percent Confidence Intervals) Of Receiving Intensive Informal Care In The Past Month for Community-Dwelling US Adults Ages 70 And Older With Dementia Who Receive Informal Care, By Marital Status And Race/Ethnicity, 2010 SOURCE Authors’ analysis of data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study. NOTES The data (from 471 respondents with probable dementia who receive information care and for whom we have information on hours of care received as well as complete information for the model variables) are weighted using survey weights to represent the noninstitutionalized US population in 2010. Care refers to help with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) because of functional limitations. Intensive care is defined as more than 200 hours of care per month across all caregivers. The model are adjusted for age in years, sex, race (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, or other) education (< high school degree, high school degree, some college, or college or more), household wealth in quintiles, number of children (0, 1, 2, or 3 or more), number of ADL functional limitations, number of IADL functional limitations, and number of chronic conditions. All model variables other than those displayed were held constant at their means. Nonmarried respondents were compared to married respondents; all racial/ethnic groups other than white were compared to white. *p < 0.10 **p < 0.05