Adult informal caregivers reporting financial burden in Hawaii, Kansas, and Washington: Results from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
BACKGROUND
Given the unpaid nature of the work, informal caregiving can create a financial burden for caregivers. Little has been done to identify specific predictors of experiencing financial burden. This study investigated demographic and health factors comparing caregivers who reported having or not having financial burden.


METHODS
Data are derived from adult caregivers (N = 3,317) as part of the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in Hawaii, Kansas, and Washington. The adjusted odds ratios for reporting a financial burden were estimated for demographic and other risk factors.


RESULTS
Caregivers who reported a financial burden were younger, had lower incomes, were more likely to be current smokers, have had a stroke, and rate their health as fair or poor compared to caregivers who did not report a financial burden. Caregivers who were younger (ages 18-34), resided with care recipients, spent 20-39 hours per week providing care, and reported having a disability were at a statistically significantly higher odds of reporting a financial burden.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the current economic difficulties faced by many Americans, further insights into the perceived financial burdens experienced by informal caregivers as well as linkages to policy and programs designed to support caregivers are critical for public health professionals to address the expanding needs in states and communities.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. claudiak@phhp.ufl.edu
Claudia T
CT
Kusano
Erin D
ED
Bouldin
Lynda A
LA
Anderson
Lisa C
LC
McGuire
Florentina R
FR
Salvail
Katrina Wynkoop
KW
Simmons
Elena M
EM
Andresen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007615:Kansas; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D014861:Washington; D055815:Young Adult