Caregiver network roles and health and well-being among Latino older adults

TL;DR

This study examines how different roles in caregiving networks affect the health and well-being of Latino older adults providing care.

Contribution

The study introduces distinct roles in caregiving networks (care helpers, disruptors, personal helpers) and their impact on Latino caregivers' health.

Findings

Caregivers with care helpers report decreased loneliness, while care disruptors increase loneliness and depression.

Higher proportions of kin in disruptor roles correlate with greater loneliness and depression.

Caregivers of individuals with ADRD experience higher loneliness, depression, and poorer health.

Abstract

Prior research links caregiving to adverse health outcomes, especially when caregivers support individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Importantly, studies show that diverse caregiving networks that include kin and non-kin are associated with lower caregiver burden and improved health. Using data from a new, nationally representative survey of (n = 733) Latino caregivers, we explore how specific network roles within caregiver networks impact caregiver health and wellbeing. We examine the social contexts of informal caregiving in the United States, focusing on the wellbeing of Latino caregivers of older adults. We define distinct roles within caregiver networks: care helpers (individuals who assist the caregiver in providing care), care disruptors (who hinder/complicate caregiving), and personal helpers (who support the caregiver personally, but not with caregiving). Preliminary findings indicate that kin comprise most roles - 80% of care helpers, 84% of care disruptors, and 87% of personal helpers. Caregivers with care helpers in their network report decreased feelings of loneliness (OR = 0.84, SE = 0.08, p < 0.10), while care disruptors significantly increase loneliness (OR = 1.62, SE = 0.44, p < 0.10). As the proportion of kin in care disruptor roles increases, caregivers experience even greater loneliness (OR = 1.68, SE = 0.45, p < 0.10) and depression (OR = 1.68, SE = 0.44, p < 0.05). Caregivers with personal helpers report slightly increased loneliness, depression and lower self-rated health, but results were not significant. Caregivers of individuals with ADRD reported higher loneliness (OR = 1.32, SE = 0.22, p < 0.10, depression (OR = 1.40, SE = 0.23, p < 0.05), and poorer health (OR = 1.91, SE = 0.31, p < 0.001). This study builds on frameworks situating caregiving within broader social networks by examining specific roles within Latino caregiver networks.