The characteristics of FRILL 2 caregivers by race and gender

The FRILL 2 project, with sites in Athens, GA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Tuscaloosa, AL and funded by a grant from NIA, is a longitudinal study of the experiences of family caregivers (CGs) of older persons. The study, guided by a modified stress and coping model that includes adverse CG outcomes (i.e., abuse, exploitation), recently completed wave 1 interviews with 434 CG/care recipient (CR) dyads. This study examined characteristics of the FRILL 2 CGs and significant differences in their experiences on a gender-by-race basis for the 133 African American female (AAF), 57 African American male (AAM), 169 White female (WF), and 75 White male (WM) CGs. Differences are categorized by Demographic Characteristics (e.g. CG age, income adequacy), Predisposing Variables (e.g., religious coping, instrumental support), Caregiver Mental Health Variables (e.g., resentment, depression), and Quality of Care Variables (e.g., Physical Neglect, Exemplary Care). There were significant differences between male and female CGs as well as differences by race within each gender group. For example, WFs were more likely to isolate CR and had more caregiving resentment. AAFs suffered from anxiety and anger, yet scored high in exemplary care. WMs had lower stress scores and lower levels of perceived instrumental support. AAMs scored higher on communal behavior, yet reported more financial exploitation.Poster Presentatio

Family members with mental health problems caring for older relatives: Implications for them and the care recipient

Little has been reported about caregiving dynamics when the identified caregiver experiences mental health problems (MHCG). This paper presents findings from a study examining the reported experience of family caregivers providing care to elders when the caregiver has a mental health problem. Funded by an RO1 grant from the National Institute on Aging, the second Family Relations in Later Life project is a five year study of long-term caregiving to older persons. A total of 444 caregiving dyads recruited from three areas of the U.S. were administered 18 standardized measures related to the caregiving experience. We found that 18% of the caregivers reported having identified psychiatric problems and in 5% of the dyads both the caregiver and care recipient experienced psychiatric problems. Care recipients of MH caregivers reported being less socially isolated and receiving more instrumental support from their caregivers than did non-MH care recipients. MH caregivers reported higher levels of resentment concerning caregiving activities and more frequent angry responses to caregiving situations than the control group. For all caregivers who reported seeking mental health treatment, 79% were MH caregivers. However, only 30% of the MH caregivers had sought mental health treatment within the past year. Persons with mental health problems providing care to family members are believed to do so at their own risk, as caregiving duties can exacerbate their MH problems and may deter them from seeking needed services. Identifying the needs of MH caregivers may avert their own decline as well as those of the care recipients.Poster Presentatio