Caregiver physical and mental health predicts reactions to caregiving.

Self-reported health and reactions to providing care to older adults with cognitive or physical impairments were examined. Health status was examined on a single occasion in 177 persons (aged 63-94 years) referred to programs within a comprehensive set of geriatric care services and the 133 family members involved in their care (ages 31-96 years). The five-scale Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) was administered to the family members. Reliability analyses revealed that the CRA had good internal consistency. Being older was related to experiencing greater health problems in the caregiver role. Greater health problems from providing care were reported by caregivers in worse physical health and also when the care recipient had more physical pain. Caregivers who reported fewer health problems attributed to caregiving reported better mental health and less depressive symptomatology. Caregivers with health problems may be at increased risk of suffering from stress from caregiving.