title: Informal caregiving for elderly people with mental illnesses and the mental health of the informal caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caring for a person often imposes a significant burden on informal caregivers, which is a possible threat to their own health and well-being. The aim of this study is twofold: (i) We analyze whether the risk of the mental burden due to informal caregiving increases when the dependent person suffers from mental disorders. (ii) We investigate if the utilization of formal care assistance reduces this burden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine data from a sickness fund regarding informal caregivers of frail elderly persons aged more than 65 years is analyzed by estimating pooled logit models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We find evidence for a significant difference of the risk of mental disturbance in informal caregivers when caring for impaired elderly with and without certain mental disorders. However, claiming formal care services in addition to the informal care provision decreases the disturbance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are political implications that arise from our results: First, the already existing system of formal in-home services should be enlarged. Second, special attention should be paid to the health status of the person in need of care when deciding which form of care is appropriate and the least burdensome for the informal caregiver.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lindenbaum
authors.affiliation: Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Universitaetsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany, Magdalena.Stroka@rub.de.
authors.forename: Magdalena A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stroka
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*