Effects of Informal Caregivers on Function of Older Adults in Home Health Care

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effects of informal caregivers on the functioning of older adults in home health care (HHC). The authors performed a secondary data analysis using the Outcome and Assessment Information Set of older adults (N = 8,750) who were admitted to a HHC agency from acute care hospitals. We conducted hierarchical multiple linear regression with functional dependence after a 60-day episode of formal HHC as an outcome variable. The older adults with informal caregivers showed less functional dependence at discharge (β = -0.821, p = .027) than those without informal caregivers. Older adults who have a spouse (β = -3.886, p < .001), offspring (β = -3.614, p < .001), relative (β = -4.360, p < .001), or nonrelative (β = -4.977, p < .001) caregiver showed less functional dependence at discharge compared with those who had a paid caregiver when controlling for risk factors.