Long-distance caregivers’ (LDC) informal care networks

Abstract

The purpose of this study (N=304) was to examine the characteristics of LDCs’ informal caregivers (IC; Co-caregivers [Co-CG], other informal helpers) network providing assistance to the care recipient (CR), and factors associated with more help received from ICs. The majority of the LDCs in the sample reported working with at least one IC (81.9%) indicating the existence of a secondary care network. LDCs and Co-CGs were often siblings in comparison to other informal helpers that were more likely to be distant kin or friends. Results also show that CRs with children, living in the community, receiving no formal services, and lower levels of cognitive impairment receive more hours of help from ICs. In addition, more hours of help by ICs were associated with LDCs’ having higher scores of depression and anxiety, spending more hours per month helping the CR, and more frequent contact with CR, but does not have a significant impact on burden scores. The interconnection between anxiety, depression, and burden are discussed in relation to familialism, positive aspects of caregiving, race, ethnicity, and gender.