The Effect of National Family Caregiver Support Program Services on Caregiver Burden

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346481990109
Author(s):  
Katarzyna A. Zebrak ◽  
Joanne R. Campione
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Respite Care ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Minimum Amount ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
National Family

Extant evidence on the effectiveness of caregiver programs in alleviating caregiver burden is mixed, underscoring the need for further investigations. This study evaluated the effect of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) educational services and respite care on caregiver burden. We used survey data from caregivers assigned to program ( n = 491) or comparison ( n = 417) group based on their reported use of NFCSP services. Adjusted difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis found an increase in mean burden scores for both groups from baseline to 6 or 12 months. Among program caregivers receiving ≥4 hr of NFCSP respite care per week ( n = 307) and matched comparisons ( n = 370), burden scores decreased slightly for program caregivers (−0.095 points), but increased for comparison caregivers (+0.145 points). The DiD (0.239 points) was not statistically significant. More research is needed to determine the minimum amount of respite care needed to positively impact caregiver burden.

scholarly journals How Lonely are Older Americans Act National Family Caregiver Support Program Participants?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 949-949
Author(s):  
Claire Pendergrast ◽  
Heather Menne
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
Care Recipients ◽  
Older Americans Act ◽  
National Family

Abstract Older Americans Act (OAA) family caregiver services connect family members caring for older adults with a diversity of community-based resources and supports. Social isolation and loneliness are known public health threats, and family caregivers may face greater vulnerability to loneliness given the often-intensive time demands of care provision. Policy stakeholders and aging services providers are increasingly focused on combating loneliness among older adults and family caregivers. To inform efforts to reduce loneliness, we conducted descriptive analyses to identify characteristics of the participants in the OAA National Family Caregiver Support Program associated with higher rates of loneliness, measured with the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Using data from the 2019 National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants, we examined how caregiver loneliness varied based on caregiver age, gender, income, race and ethnicity, living alone, rurality, and self-reported health, as well as care recipients’ health status and difficulties with ADLs. Among our sample of 1,824 family caregivers, rates of loneliness were high overall (70%). Loneliness was significantly higher for caregivers with poor health (71.4%), incomes less than $20,000 (75.3%), living alone (75.4%), aged 65 or older (73.2%), Hispanic caregivers (82.2%) and caregivers for care recipients with 3 or more ADLs (76.0%). Findings underscore the importance of increasing social engagement opportunities for family caregivers. Policies and programs focused on reducing caregiver loneliness should be accessible to all family caregivers but should prioritize outreach and engagement for groups at higher risk of loneliness.

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