title: Health impacts of caregiving for older adults with functional limitations: results from the Singapore survey on informal caregiving.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the health impact, in terms of depression, self-rated health, and health services utilization, of providing care to older adults (75+) requiring human assistance in at least one activity of daily living (ADL) limitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 1,077 caregivers and 318 noncaregivers, interviewed in the Singapore Survey on Informal Caregiving, was used to examine differences in depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and number of outpatient visits in the last 1 month between caregivers and noncaregivers. Multivariate models for the outcomes, adjusting for characteristics of the caregiver/noncaregiver and care-recipient/potential care recipient, were run.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers were more depressed, had poorer self-rated health, and had a higher rate of outpatient visits in the past month compared to noncaregivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates the need for support services to family caregivers of older adults with ADL limitations.
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chetna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Augustus John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Østbye
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012846:Singapore
keywords: Singapore; aged; caregiver; depression; elderly; health care utilization; self-rated health