Patrick Bremer1, Esther Cabrera2, Helena Leino-Kilpi3, Connie Lethin4, Kai Saks5, Caroline Sutcliffe6, Maria Soto7, Sandra M G Zwakhalen8, Ansgar Wübker9. 1. University of Witten/Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58448 Witten, Germany. Electronic address: patrick.bremer@uni-wh.de. 2. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain. 3. University of Turku, Finland. 4. Lund University, Sweden. 5. University of Tartu, Estonia. 6. The University of Manchester, United Kingdom. 7. University Hospital de Toulouse, France. 8. Maastricht University, The Netherlands. 9. Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Informal (dementia) care has economic consequences throughout the health care system. Whilst the health and wellbeing of the care recipient might improve, the health of the caregiver might also change, typically for the worse. Therefore, this analysis aims to examine the association between caregiving intensity and caregivers' health and health care utilization. DATA AND METHODS: The empirical analysis is based on cross-sectional survey data generated by the European Project "RightTimePlaceCare" (RTPC). RTPC was a prospective cohort study conducted in eight European countries (Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom). The health status of 1029 informal caregivers was assessed by measures of psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12) and self-rated overall health (EQ-VAS). Health care utilization was measured by (i) the self-stated proportion of health care use influenced by caregiving and (ii) the probability of at least one visit to a general practitioner within in the last 30 days. The association between caregiving intensity and caregivers' health and health care utilization was assessed by descriptive analysis and multivariate OLS- and probit-models. RESULTS: A higher amount of informal care was significantly related to negative health outcomes for informal caregivers. On average, one additional hour of informal caregiving per day was associated with a decrease of psychological wellbeing and self-rated overall health by 0.16 and 0.42 index points respectively. Furthermore, one more hour of informal caregiving corresponded with increased self-stated proportion of health care use by 0.56 percentage points. However, the claim of increased health care demand due to caregiving as measured by GP visits was only partly confirmed. CONCLUSION: When evaluating the full economic effect of informal care, the impact of providing care on caregivers' health and health care utilization has to be taken into account.
BACKGROUND: Informal (dementia) care has economic consequences throughout the health care system. Whilst the health and wellbeing of the care recipient might improve, the health of the caregiver might also change, typically for the worse. Therefore, this analysis aims to examine the association between caregiving intensity and caregivers' health and health care utilization. DATA AND METHODS: The empirical analysis is based on cross-sectional survey data generated by the European Project "RightTimePlaceCare" (RTPC). RTPC was a prospective cohort study conducted in eight European countries (Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom). The health status of 1029 informal caregivers was assessed by measures of psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12) and self-rated overall health (EQ-VAS). Health care utilization was measured by (i) the self-stated proportion of health care use influenced by caregiving and (ii) the probability of at least one visit to a general practitioner within in the last 30 days. The association between caregiving intensity and caregivers' health and health care utilization was assessed by descriptive analysis and multivariate OLS- and probit-models. RESULTS: A higher amount of informal care was significantly related to negative health outcomes for informal caregivers. On average, one additional hour of informal caregiving per day was associated with a decrease of psychological wellbeing and self-rated overall health by 0.16 and 0.42 index points respectively. Furthermore, one more hour of informal caregiving corresponded with increased self-stated proportion of health care use by 0.56 percentage points. However, the claim of increased health care demand due to caregiving as measured by GP visits was only partly confirmed. CONCLUSION: When evaluating the full economic effect of informal care, the impact of providing care on caregivers' health and health care utilization has to be taken into account.
Authors: Youssef H El-Hayek; Ryan E Wiley; Charles P Khoury; Ritesh P Daya; Clive Ballard; Alison R Evans; Michael Karran; José Luis Molinuevo; Matthew Norton; Alireza Atri Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2019 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Sandra H van Oostrom; Daphne L van der A; M Liset Rietman; H Susan J Picavet; Manon Lette; W M Monique Verschuren; Simone R de Bruin; Annemieke M W Spijkerman Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2017-08-30 Impact factor: 3.921