Caregiver burden and chronic illness among aging adults: an analysis of the factors moderating levels of caregiver burden/stress in caregivers.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between chronic illness among the elderly population of United States and the caregiving burden/stress among the caregivers for this population. This study's literature is supplemented by various psychological, sociological and gerontological research. This study analyzes data obtained from political and social research survey data (Thamer, 2000); a national cross-section of adults consisting of 1,663 participants, with a chronic illness and adults who provided informal caregiving services of which 680 were neither chronically ill nor caregivers, 189 were caregivers but not chronically ill, 559 were chronically ill but not caregivers, and 235 were chronically ill caregivers. The objective of this survey was to assess public awareness of chronic care issues and the level of support for chronic care policy initiatives, examine experiences and needs of chronically ill Americans concerning health care and other assistance, and evaluate experiences and needs of informal caregivers.