Informal caregiving and Body Mass Index among older adults.
The authors sought to obtain nationally representative estimates of the time of informal caregiving provided to older adults classified into the four standard Body Mass Index (BMI) classifications. They estimated multivariate regression models using data from the 2000 Health and Retirement Study to determine the weekly hours of informal caregiving for older adults classified into the four standard BMI classifications. In the fully adjusted models, being underweight was associated with receiving significantly more informal care, however, obesity was not associated with more informal care. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of nursing practice and research to prevent weight loss and frailty.
Jenkins
Kristi R
KR
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. kristirj@isr.umich.edu
Kabeto
Mohammed U
MU
Fultz
Nancy H
NH
Langa
Kenneth M
KM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012923:Social Class