Stressors and Acceptability of Services Among Black Caregivers of Persons With Memory Problems.

The purpose of the current study was to identify stressors of Black family caregivers (FCGs) of persons with memory problems (PWMPs), services of interest, and barriers to use of these services. Black FCGs were recruited from the Alzheimer's family program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and affiliated geriatric clinics, media sources, and word-of-mouth referrals. Of 38 Black FCGs interviewed, 26 (68%) were female, 18 (47%) were employed, and 21 (55%) were adult children. Average age of FCGs was 52.11 years. Mean scores for the AD8 Dementia Screening Scale (mean = 13.95, SD = 2.17) and Clinical Dementia Scale Sum of Boxes (mean = 7.29, SD = 0.87) were higher than clinical cutoffs. The most common stressors for Black FCGs were PWMPs' inability to remember who they were, managing care recipients' financial affairs, and managing PWMPs' comorbid conditions. FCGs were most interested in educational material regarding treatment and diagnosis (55.3%), caring for people with dementia (52.6%), understanding dementia (52.6%), and financial/legal services (52.6%). FCGs stated that transportation difficulties and the need for a relief person were barriers to use of services. Results suggest that Black FCGs may be more likely to participate in interventions that include virtual conferencing modalities. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(6), 13-18.].

Family caregiving and all-cause mortality: findings from a population-based propensity-matched analysis.

Previous studies have provided conflicting evidence on whether being a family caregiver is associated with increased or decreased risk for all-cause mortality. This study examined whether 3,503 family caregivers enrolled in the national Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study showed differences in all-cause mortality from 2003 to 2012 compared with a propensity-matched sample of noncaregivers. Caregivers were individually matched with 3,503 noncaregivers by using a propensity score matching procedure based on 15 demographic, health history, and health behavior covariates. During an average 6-year follow-up period, 264 (7.5%) of the caregivers died, which was significantly fewer than the 315 (9.0%) matched noncaregivers who died during the same period. A proportional hazards model indicated that caregivers had an 18% reduced rate of death compared with noncaregivers (hazard ratio = 0.823, 95% confidence interval: 0.699, 0.969). Subgroup analyses by race, sex, caregiving relationship, and caregiving strain failed to identify any subgroups with increased rates of death compared with matched noncaregivers. Public policy and discourse should recognize that providing care to a family member with a chronic illness or disability is not associated with increased risk of death in most cases, but may instead be associated with modest survival benefits for the caregivers.

Does caregiver well-being predict stroke survivor depressive symptoms? A mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies suggest that family caregiver well-being (ie, depressive symptoms and life satisfaction) may affect stroke survivor depressive symptoms. We used mediation analysis to assess whether caregiver well-being might be a factor explaining stroke survivor depressive symptoms, after controlling for demographic factors and stroke survivor impairments and problems. METHODS: Caregiver/stroke participant dyads (N = 146) completed measures of stroke survivor impairments and problems and depressive symptoms and caregiver depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Mediation analysis was used to examine whether caregiver well-being mediated the relationship between stroke survivor impairments and problems and stroke survivor depressive symptoms. RESULTS: As expected, more stroke survivor problems and impairments were associated with higher levels of stroke survivor depressive symptoms (P < .0001). After controlling for demographic factors, we found that this relationship was partially mediated by caregiver life satisfaction (29.29%) and caregiver depressive symptoms (32.95%). Although these measures combined to account for 40.50% of the relationship between survivor problems and impairments and depressive symptoms, the direct effect remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that stroke survivor impairments and problems may affect family caregivers and stroke survivors and a high level of caregiver distress may result in poorer outcomes for stroke survivors. Results highlight the likely importance of intervening with both stroke survivors and family caregivers to optimize recovery after stroke.

Race and gender differences in 1-year outcomes for community-dwelling stroke survivors with family caregivers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous research has reported worse outcomes after stroke for women and for African Americans, but few prospective population-based studies have systematically examined demographic differences on long-term stroke outcomes. Race and gender differences in 1-year stroke outcomes were examined using an epidemiologically derived sample of first-time stroke survivors from the national REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. METHODS: Participants of REGARDS who reported a first-time stroke event during regular surveillance calls were interviewed by telephone and then completed an in-home evaluation approximately 1 year after the verified first-time stroke event (N=112). A primary family caregiver was also enrolled and interviewed for each stroke survivor. Measures from the in-home evaluation included previously validated stroke outcomes assessments of neurological deficits, functional impairments, and patient-reported effects of stroke in multiple domains. Results- African American stroke survivors were less likely to be living with their primary family caregivers than white participants. Analyses that controlled for age, education, and whether the stroke survivors lived with their primary family caregivers indicated that African Americans and women showed significantly greater deficits on multiple 1-year outcome measures compared to whites and men, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among community-dwelling stroke survivors with family caregivers, women and African Americans are at heightened risk for poor long-term outcomes 1 year after first-time stroke events. Rehabilitation services and public health policies aimed at enhancing stroke recovery rates should address these disparities in poststroke outcomes.

Quality of life after stroke: a prospective longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: To measure the impact of stroke on quality of life (QOL), and analyze whether race, gender, age, income, or living alone moderated those changes, using prospective longitudinal methods. METHODS: Participants in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study without history of stroke completed baseline SF-12 Mental (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) measures and a depression scale. Measures were repeated (M = 1231 days later) by 136 participants after an incident medically documented stroke and by 136 demographically matched stroke-free controls. RESULTS: Stroke participants showed significant worsening than controls in all three QOL measures. Controls also declined significantly in PCS. Standardized effect sizes for stroke versus control participants after adjusting for covariates were similar across the three measures and ranged from .366 to .465 standard deviation units. Stroke survivors who lived alone were at greater risk for increases in depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple declines in QOL occur after stroke, and social isolation heightens risk for increasing depression after stroke. Our prospective design and use of a population-based sample with matched controls suggests similar effects in both physical health and mental health QOL domains and offers unique strengths in understanding the impact of stroke on QOL.

Problems and benefits reported by stroke family caregivers: results from a prospective epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke symptoms can be very stressful for family caregivers, but most knowledge about the prevalence and stressfulness of stroke-related patient problems is derived from convenience samples. In addition, little is known about perceived benefits of the stroke caregiving experience. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and stressfulness of stroke-related problems, and perceived benefits of caregiving, as reported by an epidemiologically derived sample of caregivers of stroke survivors. METHODS: Stroke survivors (N=75) from a prospective epidemiological study of stroke, the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, and their family caregivers were followed. Caregivers were given a comprehensive telephone interview 8 to 12 months after the stroke, using measures of stroke patient problems, caregiver appraisals of the stressfulness of these problems, and perceived benefits of caregiving. RESULTS: Caregivers rated patient problems with mood (depression, loneliness and anxiety), memory, and physical care (bowel control), as the most stressful, but reported prevalence of these problems was lower than those reported previously in studies using clinical samples. Caregivers also reported many benefits from caregiving, with over 90% reporting that caregiving enabled them to appreciate life more. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiologically based studies of stroke caregiving provide a unique picture of caregiver strains and benefits compared with clinical studies, which tend to over-represent more impaired patients. Support for caregivers should include interventions to aid their coping with highly stressful mood, physical care, and cognitive problems of stroke patients, but should also attend to perceived benefits of caregiving.

Family caregiving and emotional strain: associations with quality of life in a large national sample of middle-aged and older adults.

PURPOSE: This study examined the quality of life correlates of family caregiving and caregiving strain in a large national epidemiological sample. METHODS: Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 43,099 participants as part of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Participants completed the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) and brief measures of depressive symptoms, social contacts, and caregiving strain. RESULTS: Family caregiving responsibilities were reported by 12% of participants. Caregivers reported more quality of life problems than noncaregivers, but these effects were largely dependent on the perceived level of caregiving strain. High strain caregivers reported more problems with emotional distress, worse physical functioning, and fewer social contacts than noncaregivers. Conversely, caregivers who reported no strain from caregiving reported better quality of life than noncaregivers. Caregiving strain effects were not due to demographic differences or to more objective indicators of caregiving demand. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological and social indices of quality of life indicate prevalent problems among family caregivers who have experienced high strain from their caregiving responsibilities. Public health programs for disabled individuals should include assessments of strain on family caregivers and support services for those who report high levels of caregiving strain.

Associations of Multimorbid Medical Conditions and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older African American Men.

Background: African American (AA) men battling multiple morbidities are tasked with managing the components of each condition and are at greater risk for adverse outcomes such as poor health-related quality of life (QOL), disability, and higher mortality rates. Method: Baseline data for AA men from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging were utilized. Factor analysis was used to categorize medical conditions and create factor scores. Covariate-adjusted regression models assessed the relationships between categories of conditions and physical and mental health-related QOL as assessed by the SF-12. Results: The mean age of the sample of 247 AA men was 75.36 years and 49% lived in rural areas. Medical conditions fit into three factors: metabolic syndrome, kidney failure and neurological complications, and COPD and heart disease. Covariate-adjusted models revealed that low education, higher levels of income difficulty, and higher scores on metabolic syndrome and COPD and heart disease factors were associated with lower scores on physical health-related QOL, p's < .05. Higher levels of income difficulty were also associated with lower scores on mental health-related QOL. Discussion: These findings suggest the importance of examining clusters of comorbid medical conditions and their relationships to outcomes within older African American men.

Correlates of health-related quality of life in African American and Caucasian stroke caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. Family caregivers are susceptible to negative outcomes as a result of their caregiving role. A stress process model was utilized to identify characteristics of stroke caregivers who are at risk for poor physical and mental health-related quality of life (QOL). RESEARCH METHOD: Individuals who experienced an incident stroke event within the previous year were identified from a larger epidemiologic study of stroke incidence. These stroke survivors were enrolled in the Caring for Adults Recovering from the Effects of Stroke (CARES) study along with their primary family caregivers (N = 146 dyads). Caregivers completed a baseline telephone interview that assessed physical and mental health-related QOL, problems their family members were experiencing, appraisals of those problems, and caregiver resources. RESULTS: Objective stressors, appraisals, and caregiver resources were related to caregiver physical and mental health-related QOL, ps <.05. Objective stressors were found to have a stronger association with caregiver mental health than physical health. Hierarchical regression models showed the relative importance of each category of predictors. In the final models, older age and receiving more support were associated with worse physical health-related QOL whereas African American race and fewer stroke survivor problems were associated with better mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The correlates of health-related QOL identified in this national sample of caregivers can help identify stroke caregivers who are at risk for poor adjustment to the caregiving role and aid in identifying areas that can potentially be intervened upon for these caregivers.

Caregiving strain and all-cause mortality: evidence from the REGARDS study.

OBJECTIVES: Using a large, national sample, this study examined perceived caregiving strain and other caregiving factors in relation to all-cause mortality. METHOD: The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study is a population-based cohort of men and women aged 45 years and older. Approximately 12% (n = 3,710) reported that they were providing ongoing care to a family member with a chronic illness or disability. Proportional hazards models were used for this subsample to examine the effects of caregiving status measures on all-cause mortality over the subsequent 5-year period, both before and after covariate adjustment. RESULTS: Caregivers who reported high caregiving strain had significantly higher adjusted mortality rates than both no strain (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.55, p = .02) and some strain (HR = 1.83, p = .001) caregivers. The mortality effects of caregiving strain were not found to differ by race, sex, or the type of caregiving relationship (i.e., spouse, parent, child, sibling, and other). DISCUSSION: High perceived caregiving strain is associated with increased all-cause mortality after controlling for appropriate covariates. High caregiving strain constitutes a significant health concern and these caregivers should be targeted for appropriate interventions.

Driving status and three-year mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: Driving cessation can lead to myriad negative consequences for older adults. The purpose of these analyses was to examine driving status as a predictor of mortality among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 660 community-dwelling adults ranging in age between 63 and 97 years. Between 2000 and 2004, participants completed performance-based assessments of vision, cognition, and physical abilities and indexes of health, depression, self-efficacy, and driving habits. Follow-up telephone interviews were completed approximately 3 years later. RESULTS: Among community-dwelling older adults, older age, health, poor near visual acuity, depressive symptoms, compromised cognitive status, and being a nondriver are associated with increased risk for a 3-year mortality. Nondrivers were four to six times more likely to die than drivers during the subsequent 3-year period. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to drive represents both a sign of cherished independence and underlying health and well-being for older adults. Retaining this ability is an important health concern in the United States.

Driving cessation and health trajectories in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Older adults who cease driving have poorer health than those who continue to drive. However, it is unclear whether the transition to driving cessation itself results in health declines or whether driving cessation subsequently exacerbates health declines over time. METHODS: The current study addresses these questions using multilevel modeling among 690 older adults from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study. Driving status and health, as indicated by the SF-36 questionnaire, self-rated health, physical performance (Turn 360 degrees Test), and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year follow-up visits. RESULTS: The transition to driving cessation was accompanied by significant declines in physical and social functioning, physical performance, and physical role (ps < .05). Health declines after driving cessation were steeper for general health. CONCLUSIONS: The transition to driving cessation is associated with health declines for older adults as measured by several indicators. Additionally, general health declines more sharply following driving cessation. These findings highlight the importance of interventions to sustain driving mobility among older adults.