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Objectives. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between selected decedent and caregiver characteristics, facility-related perceptions, and emotional and physical health of 434 informal caregivers (94% family) of recently deceased residents of residential care/assisted living facilities and nursing homes. We also examined potential mediating effects of social support (informal, staff, and spiritual). Methods. We analyzed data using linear mixed models. Results. Among caregivers, younger age, female gender, more education, financial burden, other dependents, poorer perceptions of care, and more care involvement were associated with more emotional strain. More staff support also was associated with more emotional strain and partially mediated the relationship between having a trusted staff member and emotional strain. Characteristics associated with poorer physical health included unemployment, financial burden, poorer physician communication, and trusted staff member. Informal social support was directly related to better physical health and mediated the relationships between physical health and both physician communication and financial burden. Discussion. Many characteristics related to end-of-life caregiving outcomes in long-term care are consistent with community-based studies, suggesting that end-of-life caregiving outcomes in long-term care are not markedly different than in other settings. However, the role of staff support may either facilitate or complicate emotional strain and merits additional study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of, as well as characteristics associated with, mobility limitation in 343 residents with dementia in 45 assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Overall, 89% of residents had some degree of mobility limitation. Mobility limitation was associated with fewer behavioral symptoms, low fluid intake, professional assessment, and professional and informal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the multidimensional system of social support families use to care for dependent African American elders. Overview of systems of support; Relationships between social support systems; Profile of primary caregiver and recipients.

Identifies the type and structure of caregivers providing care to elder African Americans in the United States. Types of caregivers; Demographic characteristics of caregivers; Relevance of care recipient condition on caregiving structure; Comparison between individualistic and collectivist caregiving structures.

The purposes of this study were to longitudinally examine the health outcomes of 107 African American caregivers who provided care to their elderly dependent family members and to determine the role of culture in predicting health outcomes. Similar to other studies, we found that combinations of caregiver background characteristics, stressors, and resources at wave 1 had direct effects on African American caregivers' health outcomes at wave 3. Unlike previous studies, where culture was not measured, we found that cultural beliefs and values did help to explain health outcomes for African American caregivers. Specifically, culture justifications for caregiving, baseline psychosocial health, and caregiving mastery predicted wave 3 psychosocial health. Caregiver education, number of morbidities, and physical functioning at wave 1 were associate with physical functioning at wave 3. The findings form this study have implications for future studies, particularly in regard to cultural beliefs and values among African American caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Our objective in this study was to explore the effects of caregiver characteristics on cultural reasons given for providing care to dependent elderly family members. Methods. The sample included 48 African American and 121 White caregivers. Using multivariate analyses, we used caregiver characteristics (e.g., race, gender, education) to predict scores on the Cultural Justifications for Caregiving Scale (CJCS). Results. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the CJCS was appropriate for both African American and White caregivers. African Americans had stronger cultural reasons for providing care than Whites, education levels were inversely related to CJCS scores, and the influences of gender and age on cultural reasons were moderated by race. Compared to females, African American males had lower CJCS scores, whereas White males had higher CJCS scores. Younger as compared to older White caregivers had higher CJCS scores. Discussion. This study supports the long-standing cultural tradition of African American families providing care to dependent elders. Cultural reasons for caregiving need to be interpreted within the context of race and gender socialization. Social roles, such as husband or wife, son or daughter, can also help determine how individuals within a particular cultural group experience cultural expectations and obligations. Information from this study can inform culturally appropriate caregiving interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the sociodemographics, self-rated health, and involvement levels of family caregivers of residents with dementia in residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) versus nursing home settings. Design and Methods: We conducted telephone interviews with the family caregivers most involved with 353 residents of 34 residential care and 10 nursing home facilities. We measured involvement by caregiver self-report of monthly out-of-pocket spending, involvement and burden ratings, and the frequency of engaging in eight specific care activities. Open-ended questions elicited areas in which caregivers preferred different involvement and ways the facility could facilitate involvement. Results: Nursing home caregivers rated their health poorer than RC/AL caregivers, but there were no sociodemographic differences between the two. RC/AL caregivers rated both their perception of involvement and burden higher and engaged more frequently in monitoring the resident's health, well-being, and finances than did nursing home caregivers, although the reported time spent per week on care did not differ. Implications: RC/AL and nursing home caregivers to residents with dementia may tailor their care to fit the needs of the resident and setting. Results are discussed in relation to the Congruence Model of Person-Environment Fit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]