TY - JOUR
T1 - Contribution of secondary caregivers to post-acute home care for elderly patients
AU - Li, Hong
AU - Morrow-Howell, Nancy
AU - Proctor, Enola
N1 - Funding Information:
Hong Li, PhD, is Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1207 West Oregon, Urbana, IL 61801. Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD, is Ralph and Muriel Pumphrey Professor of Social Work, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130. Enola Proctor, PhD, is Frank J. Bruno Professor of Social Work Research, and Associate Dean for Research, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130. The authors thank Dr. Mary Eamon, Dr. Jill Kagle, Dr. Patsy Trace, and Ms. Jana Mosley for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper. This research was funded by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
PY - 2006/11/29
Y1 - 2006/11/29
N2 - This study examined the contribution of secondary caregivers to the elderly patients' use of informal services and use of formal services, and the adequacy of care provided to the elderly patients in the period following acute hospitalization. A sample of 149 elderly patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) were interviewed at their home two weeks after their hospital discharge. Nearly three quarters of the elderly patients had one or more secondary caregivers. Findings from ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses indicate that the involvement of secondary caregivers was not significantly related to elderly patients' use of informal services, formal services, or the adequacy of care. These findings may be relevant to the practice of discharge planners by suggesting that the involvement of secondary caregivers may not reduce elderly patients' need for informal services and/or formal services. Furthermore, the involvement of secondary caregivers may not improve the adequacy of care provided to the elderly patients.
AB - This study examined the contribution of secondary caregivers to the elderly patients' use of informal services and use of formal services, and the adequacy of care provided to the elderly patients in the period following acute hospitalization. A sample of 149 elderly patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) were interviewed at their home two weeks after their hospital discharge. Nearly three quarters of the elderly patients had one or more secondary caregivers. Findings from ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses indicate that the involvement of secondary caregivers was not significantly related to elderly patients' use of informal services, formal services, or the adequacy of care. These findings may be relevant to the practice of discharge planners by suggesting that the involvement of secondary caregivers may not reduce elderly patients' need for informal services and/or formal services. Furthermore, the involvement of secondary caregivers may not improve the adequacy of care provided to the elderly patients.
KW - Adequacy of care
KW - Primary and secondary caregivers
KW - Use of formal services
KW - Use of informal services
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U2 - 10.1300/J079v33n01_04
DO - 10.1300/J079v33n01_04
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33845788026
VL - 33
SP - 39
EP - 46
JO - Journal of Social Service Research
JF - Journal of Social Service Research
SN - 0148-8376
IS - 1
ER -