Extent and cost of informal caregiving for older Americans with symptoms of depression.

TitleExtent and cost of informal caregiving for older Americans with symptoms of depression.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsLanga, KM, Valenstein, MA, A. Fendrick, M, Kabeto, MU, Vijan, S
JournalAm J Psychiatry
Volume161
Issue5
Pagination857-63
Date Published2004 May
ISSN Number0002-953X
Call Numberpubs_2004_Langa-etal_AJP.pdf
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Comorbidity, Costs and Cost Analysis, Depressive Disorder, Fees and Charges, Female, Health Care Costs, Home Nursing, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Personality Inventory, Workload
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to obtain nationally representative estimates of the additional time and cost associated with informal caregiving for older Americans with depressive symptoms.

METHOD: Data from the 1993 Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Study, a nationally representative survey of people age 70 years or older (N=6,649), were used to determine the weekly hours and imputed costs of informal caregiving for elderly people with no depressive symptoms in the last week, one to three depressive symptoms in the last week, and four to eight depressive symptoms in the last week.

RESULTS: Forty-four percent of survey respondents reported one to three depressive symptoms, and 18% reported four to eight depressive symptoms. In multivariate regression analyses that adjusted for sociodemographics, caregiver network, and coexisting chronic health conditions, respondents with no depressive symptoms received an average of 2.9 hours per week of informal care, compared with 4.3 hours per week for those with one to three symptoms and 6.0 hours per week for those with four to eight symptoms. Caregiving associated with depressive symptoms in elderly Americans represented a yearly cost of about $9 billion.

CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms in elderly persons are independently associated with significantly higher levels of informal caregiving, even after the effects of major coexisting chronic conditions are adjusted. The additional hours of care attributable to depressive symptoms represent a significant time commitment for family members and, therefore, a significant societal economic cost. Further research should evaluate the causal pathways by which depressive symptoms lead to high levels of caregiving and should examine whether successful treatment of depression reduces the need for informal care.

DOI10.1176/appi.ajp.161.5.857
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15121651?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Depression Symptoms/Caregiving

Endnote ID

12252

Alternate JournalAm J Psychiatry
Citation Key6918
PubMed ID15121651
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K08 AG-19180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG-09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States