title: Experiences of Informal Caregivers of Older Adults Transitioned From Nursing Homes to the Community Through the Money Follows the Person Demonstration.
abstract: This study examined experiences of 156 informal caregivers of older adults who transitioned to the community through the Connecticut Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration after prolonged nursing home stays. Caregiver burden, positive aspects of caregiving, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and comparative subjective stress were examined in relation to caregiver demographics and care receiver characteristics with a cross-sectional survey. Caregivers reported low burden, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, and fairly high levels of positive aspects of caregiving and satisfaction with community services. Most caregivers were less stressed compared to the time the care recipient was in, or before they entered, a nursing home. Live-in caregivers experienced more positive aspects of caregiving, but adult children reported higher burden than other caregivers. Unmet service needs also increased caregiver burden. Programs like MFP are a viable option with broadly positive outcomes from a caregiver's perspective. Enthusiasm for increasing access to community care is growing for older adults who otherwise would reside in nursing homes for extended periods. Identifying unmet service needs and needs for targeted functional support could further enhance caregiver experiences and contribute to the successful transition of older adults to the community.
authors.affiliation: a Assistant Clinical Professor, Adjunct, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wise Elephant Family Health Team , McMaster University , Brampton , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Lorand
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kristof
authors.affiliation: b Professor, Center on Aging , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fortinsky
authors.affiliation: c Research Associate, Center on Aging , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kellett
authors.affiliation: c Research Associate, Center on Aging , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: d Associate Professor, Center on Aging , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D019058:Community Networks / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction
keywords: Caregiver stress; Medicaid; home- and community-based services; long-term services and supports; nursing homes