title: Baby boomer caregiver and dementia caregiving: findings from the National Study of Caregiving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have well documented the characteristics of baby boomers but less is known about the experiences of boomer caregivers (CGs) of people with dementia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of boomer CGs of people with dementia with those of boomer CGs for people without dementia and to ascertain factors associated with outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected baby boomer CGs from the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) with 650 primary boomer CGs (138 CGs of people with dementia and 512 CGs of people without dementia).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Stress Process Model (SPM) was used to examine the effects of resources (the use of paid help and informal support) and stressors (primary: level of CG care activities and interrupted sleep; secondary: strain of caregiving on work, other care and social activities) on CGs' down, depressed or hopeless feelings and self-perceived general health. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare SPM domain differences and ordinary least-square multiple regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of CGs' outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High blood pressure and arthritis were the most prevalent chronic diseases in both groups. Boomer CGs of people with dementia reported providing more help with daily activities, higher level of caregiving and social activity conflict, experiencing more interrupted sleep and more down, depressed or hopeless feelings than CGs of people without dementia. Different factors predicted boomer CGs' outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current results yield important information about the considerable differences between two baby boomer CG groups within the caregiving experiences. The findings highlight the need to provide tailored interventions to boomer CGs to help them cope with caregiving stress to improve their physical and mental health.
authors.affiliation: Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, KY, US.
authors.forename: Heehyul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Peggye
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dilworth-Anderson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011158:Population Growth; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: baby boomer; caregiving; dementia; older people