National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Behavioral Health (2)
- (-) Caregiving (10)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Dementia (3)
- (-) Elderly (10)
- Healthcare Utilization (2)
- Home Healthcare (4)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Long-Term Care (2)
- Medicare (1)
- Neurological Disorders (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Stress (1)
- Telehealth (1)
- Training (2)
- Transitions of Care (2)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedKeita Fakeye MB, Samuel LJ, Drabo EF
Caregiving-related work productivity loss among employed family and other unpaid caregivers of older adults.
Despite the fact that a significant proportion of caregivers to elderly individuals are employed, little is known about short-term work impacts of caregiving while physically present at work using measures related to both missed work time and reduced productivity. The purpose of this study was to quantify the prevalence, costs, and correlates of caregiving-related work productivity loss. The researchers utilized the 2015 National Study of Caregiving and National Health and Aging Trends Study to estimate caregiving-related work absences (absenteeism) and reduced productivity while at work (presenteeism). The costs of lost productivity using hours lost, compensation, and a wage multiplier, accounting for the additional cost of replacing employee time were calculated. Researchers then separately examined the relationship between caregiving-related absenteeism and presenteeism. The study found that Nearly 1 in 4 of the estimated 8.8 million employed family caregivers reported either absenteeism or presenteeism over a 1-month period due to caregiving. Among those affected, caregiving decreased work productivity by an estimated $5600 per employee predominantly due to reduced performance at work. Loss of productivity was greater among the caregivers of older adults with substantial care needs and varied based on sociodemographic characteristics and caregiver supports.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Keita Fakeye MB, Samuel LJ, Drabo EF .
Caregiving-related work productivity loss among employed family and other unpaid caregivers of older adults.
Value Health 2023 May; 26(5):712-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2022.06.014..
Keywords: Caregiving, Elderly
Hale KL, Zalla LC, Scherer EM
Grandparenting activities and mental health in Northern Sri Lanka.
The role of grandparenting activities in mitigating social engagement and depressive symptoms in older adults is a growing area of research interest. However, the diversity in demographic characteristics and caregiving responsibilities pose challenges in its measurement. The purpose of this study was to pilot test a mechanism for assessing grandparenting activities in a sample of 79 grandparents (aged 55 and above) in Sri Lanka and examined the relationship between these activities and psychological discomfort. The researchers further investigated if the correlation was influenced by the grandparents' functional constraints. The study found a positive correlation between increased involvement in generative grandparenting activities and reduced psychological distress, with the association being more pronounced in grandparents with higher functional restrictions.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Hale KL, Zalla LC, Scherer EM .
Grandparenting activities and mental health in Northern Sri Lanka.
J Intergener Relatsh 2023; 21(2):194-214. doi: 10.1080/15350770.2021.1991869..
Keywords: Caregiving, Behavioral Health, Elderly
Russell D, Burgdorf JG, Kramer C
Family caregivers' conceptions of trust in home health care providers.
Trust is important to family caregivers of older adults receiving home health care (HHC). Caregivers rely extensively on nurses, home health aides, and other providers to manage complex care tasks. The current study examined how family caregivers conceived of trust in HHC providers. The investigators found that caregivers' conceptions of trust in providers were affected by interpersonal aspects of their interactions with providers as well as the broader systems of care within which they participate.
AHRQ-funded; HS022140.
Citation: Russell D, Burgdorf JG, Kramer C .
Family caregivers' conceptions of trust in home health care providers.
Res Gerontol Nurs 2021 Jul-Aug;14(4):200-10. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20210526-01..
Keywords: Elderly, Home Healthcare, Caregiving
Burgdorf JG, Arbaje AI, Stuart EA
Unmet family caregiver training needs associated with acute care utilization during home health care.
This study estimated the proportion of family caregivers assisting Medicare home health patients who have unmet training needs and its’ potential impact on older adults’ risk of acute care utilization. Linked data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), Medicare Provider of Services file, and Medicare claims data from 2011 to 2016 were used. Rates of unmet training needs varied from 8.2% of family caregivers assisting with household chores and 16% assisting with self-care tasks. After controlling for older adult and home health provider characteristics, older adults with family caregivers who had unmet training needs were twice as likely to incur acute care utilization during their home health episode.
AHRQ-funded; HS0000029.
Citation: Burgdorf JG, Arbaje AI, Stuart EA .
Unmet family caregiver training needs associated with acute care utilization during home health care.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jul;69(7):1887-95. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17138..
Keywords: Caregiving, Home Healthcare, Elderly, Healthcare Utilization, Training
Wang J, Ying M, Temkin-Greener H
Care-partner support and hospitalization in assisted living during transitional home health care.
This study examined the impact of care-partner support on outcomes among assisted living (AL) residents. Variation in care-partner and its impact on hospitalizations among AL residents receiving Medicare home health (HH) services was investigated. Analysis of national data from various databases was used and a total of 741,926 participants were identified with Medicare HH admissions in 2017. Care-partner support during the HH admission was measured in seven domains: activity of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of ADLs), medication administration, treatment, medical equipment, home safety, and transportation. Care-partner support was categorized as assistance not needed, care-partner currently providing assistance, care-partner needs additional training/support to provide assistance, and care-partner is unavailable/unlikely to provide assistance. Among the cohort, inadequate care-partner support was identified for all seven domains ranging from 13.1% for transportation to 49.8% for treatment and was unavailable for 0.9% for transportation to 11.0% for treatment. Having inadequate or unavailable care-partner support was related to increased risk of hospitalization by 8.9% for treatment to 41.3% for medication administration.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Wang J, Ying M, Temkin-Greener H .
Care-partner support and hospitalization in assisted living during transitional home health care.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 May;69(5):1231-39. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17005..
Keywords: Elderly, Transitions of Care, Caregiving, Hospitalization, Home Healthcare, Long-Term Care
Burgdorf JG, Stuart EA, Arbaje AI
Family caregiver training needs and Medicare home health visit utilization.
This study looked at family caregiver training needs and Medicare home health visit utilization. Medicare home health providers are now required to give family caregiver training, but service intensity is not known. This observational study linked National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), Outcomes and Assessment Information (OASIS), and Medicare claims data to evaluate the relationship between caregivers’ training needs and number/type of home health visits. A total of 1217 NHATS participants receiving Medicare-funded home health between 2011 and 2016 were included. Nurse visits were more likely when family caregivers had medication management or household chore training needs. Therapy visits were more likely when caregivers had self-care training needs. Aide visits were more likely when caregivers had household chore or self-care training needs. Medication management training needs resulted in an additional 1.06 nursing visits, and household chore training an additional 3.24 total and a subset of 1.32 aide visits.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Burgdorf JG, Stuart EA, Arbaje AI .
Family caregiver training needs and Medicare home health visit utilization.
Med Care 2021 Apr;59(4):341-47. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001487..
Keywords: Caregiving, Elderly, Home Healthcare, Medicare, Training, Healthcare Utilization
Zmora R, Zmora LL, Bustamante G
Dementia caregivers' experiences and reactions to remote activity monitoring system alerts.
Technology-based tools, including remote activity monitoring (RAM) systems, have been proposed as valuable aids for family caregivers of people with dementia. Previous analyses have shown limited effects of these systems and highlighted a number of barriers, including false alarms. In this study, the investigators used data from an ongoing embedded mixed method randomized controlled intervention to describe patterns of alerts and their association with receipt of the RAM system and caregiver outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS022836.
Citation: Zmora R, Zmora LL, Bustamante G .
Dementia caregivers' experiences and reactions to remote activity monitoring system alerts.
J Gerontol Nurs 2021 Jan;47(1):13-20. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20201208-03.
.
.
Keywords: Elderly, Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Caregiving, Telehealth
Zmora R, Statz TL, Birkeland RW
Transitioning to long-term care: family caregiver experiences of dementia, communities, and counseling.
Previous analyses of interventions targeting relationships between family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and residential long-term care (RLTC) staff showed modest associations with caregiver outcomes. This analysis aimed to better understand interpersonal and contextual factors that influence caregiver-staff relationships and identify targets for future interventions to improve these relationships.
AHRQ-funded; HS022836.
Citation: Zmora R, Statz TL, Birkeland RW .
Transitioning to long-term care: family caregiver experiences of dementia, communities, and counseling.
J Aging Health 2021 Jan;33(1-2):133-46. doi: 10.1177/0898264320963588..
Keywords: Elderly, Caregiving, Dementia, Transitions of Care, Long-Term Care, Chronic Conditions
Aschbrenner KA, Pepin R, Mueser KT
A mixed methods exploration of family involvement in medical care for older adults with serious mental illness.
This study explored family involvement in medical care for older adults with serious mental illness (SMI). The investigators found that approximately 89% of older adults with SMI reported family involvement in at least one aspect of their medical care (e.g., medication reminders, medical decision making). However, many family members reported that they were rarely involved in their relative's medical visits, and most did not perceive a need to be involved during routine care.
AHRQ-funded; HS021695.
Citation: Aschbrenner KA, Pepin R, Mueser KT .
A mixed methods exploration of family involvement in medical care for older adults with serious mental illness.
Int J Psychiatry Med 2014;48(2):121-33. doi: 10.2190/PM.48.2.e..
Keywords: Caregiving, Elderly, Behavioral Health, Patient and Family Engagement
Austrom MG, Lu YY, Perkins AJ
Impact of noncaregiving-related stressors on informal caregiver outcomes.
The researchers studied the most stressful events experienced by spouse caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer s disease during a 6-month period. They found that caregivers reported no stressors 21.5% of the time, 1-2 stressors 25% of the time, and 3 stressors 53% of the time with 318 stressors reported in total. They concluded that their results can be used to develop targeted intervention and support strategies for spouse caregivers experiencing non-caregiving related stressors as well as the traditional challenges with caregiving-related issues.
AHRQ-funded; HS010884.
Citation: Austrom MG, Lu YY, Perkins AJ .
Impact of noncaregiving-related stressors on informal caregiver outcomes.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2014 Aug;29(5):426-32. doi: 10.1177/1533317513518652.
.
.
Keywords: Caregiving, Dementia, Elderly, Stress