Health conditions and service utilization of adults with elder care responsibilities.
This study examines health conditions and health care services utilization rates of 628 caregivers and 6,599 noncaregivers age 50 or older who were members of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in Northern California. Controlling for age, gender, and race, caregivers were more likely than noncaregivers to report backaches, insomnia, arthritis, rectal problems, and hearing problems; they were also more likely to report having two or more current health conditions of any kind. However, caregivers and noncaregivers did not differ significantly with regard to the number of outpatient medical visits or with regard to the number of outpatient psychiatry visits.
Scharlach
A E
AE
Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program.
Runkle
M C
MC
Midanik
L T
LT
Soghikian
K
K
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires