Characteristics of American Indian and Alaska native adult caregivers, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2000.
OBJECTIVE
We compared characteristics of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adult caregivers (age > or = 18 years) who were caring for an older adult (age > or = 60 years) to those of other ethnic groups.


METHODS
Participants (N=20,996) were from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Caregivers provided regular care or assistance during the past month to a family member or friend who was > or = 60 years of age. In addition, participants were asked to indicate whom they would call to arrange short- or long-term care in the home for elderly relatives or friends who were no longer able to care for themselves.


RESULTS
A total of 16.4% of adults were caregivers to a person who was > or = 60. AI/AN were significantly more likely to report being caregivers than were people who were of Asian descent. Compared to AI/AN caregivers, Hispanic caregivers indicated that if a friend or relative needed short- or long-term care, they were more likely to provide care themselves (29.1% vs 46.6%) and that they were less likely to indicate that they would contact a professional resource (14.5% vs 25.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Family caregivers provide a valuable service in the United States, particularly to chronically ill or disabled older adults. National, state, and local surveys should regularly collect information on caregiving.
McGuire
Lisa C
LC
Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, USA. LMcGuire@cdc.gov
Okoro
Catherine A
CA
Goins
R Turner
RT
Anderson
Lynda A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000413:Alaska / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D004930:Inuit / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult