Leveraging Analytics to Shape California’s Caregiver Equity Roadmap

TL;DR

This paper outlines how data analysis is used to create a roadmap for improving caregiver support in California, considering population trends and caregiver needs.

Contribution

The study introduces a data-driven approach to developing a caregiver equity roadmap tailored to California's demographic and health trends.

Findings

Integrated data sources revealed key sociodemographic and health characteristics of caregivers in California.

The analysis provided insights to shape strategies for improving publicly funded caregiver services.

The roadmap offers a replicable framework for other states to enhance caregiver support.

Abstract

Shifts in population and other factors are reshaping caregiving in California. To ensure access and effective support, publicly funded caregiver services and supports must be responsive to population trends and caregiver characteristics. The California Department of Aging (CDA) partnered with the Family Caregiving Institute (FCI) at UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing to develop a roadmap to outline strategies and actions to improve publicly funded caregiver support over five years. This study identified data sources and analytical approaches to develop the California Caregiver Equity Roadmap (“Roadmap”). Data sources included administrative records from publicly funded caregiver support programs, caregiver assessments from the California Caregiver Resource Centers, and population-based surveys. Analyses integrated these data sources to examine population trends and caregiver characteristics. Key sociodemographic and health characteristics included age distribution, geographic patterns, race and ethnicity, poverty level, broadband access, care dependency ratios, care receiver needs, and attributes of the caregiving role. Analyzing the intersection of population trends and caregiver characteristics provided a foundation for the Roadmap’s development. The findings provide a deeper understanding of caregiving in California, insights for improving services and supports across the state, and offer a framework for other states to follow. Research implications include using data to better understand caregiver needs, improve service delivery, and guide policy decisions and program development.