Open AccessChanges in physical and mental health of Black, Hispanic, and White caregivers and non‐caregivers associated with onset of spousal dementia
Author(s) -
Chen Cynthia,
Thunell Johanna,
Zissimopoulos Julie
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: translational research and clinical interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.49
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 2352-8737
DOI - 10.1002/trc2.12082
Subject(s) - spouse , dementia , health and retirement study , ethnic group , gerontology , socioeconomic status , mental health , medicine , odds , health equity , psychology , psychiatry , public health , disease , population , environmental health , logistic regression , nursing , pathology , sociology , anthropology
We aim to determine whether racial/ethnic health disparities are a consequence of caregiving for persons with dementia and/or health status before becoming a caregiver. Methods Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998–2012) on 7859 Black, Hispanic, and White couples were analyzed for changes in physical and mental health with incident dementia of a spouse. Results Blacks and Hispanics, but not Whites, had poorer health before becoming caregivers for a spouse with dementia, than those who did not become caregivers. Spouse's dementia onset was associated with caregiver's higher odds of depressive disorder, with no racial/ethnic variation. Racial disparities in caregiver's health were attributed to health differences before caregiving, not differential health changes due to caregiving. Discussion Older Blacks and Hispanics with poor health are at increased risk of caregiving for a spouse with dementia. Protecting the health of persons supporting spouses with dementia requires understanding socioeconomic and cultural factors driving care provision.