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Maryam Navaie-Waliser, DrPH and Aubrey Spriggs, MA. Center for Home Care Policy and Research, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, 5 Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001, 212-609-5762, maryam.navaie@vnsny.org
Introduction: This study investigated factors affecting interaction level and quality between informal and formal home health caregivers.
Methods: Interviews conducted with a matched sample of 202 care recipients and their primary informal and formal home health caregivers (nurses or therapists) were linked to secondary clinical and administrative data. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed.
Results: Among informal caregivers whose care recipients had nursing (91%) or therapeutic (84%) care, 36% reported no contact with nurses and 39% had no contact with therapists. As compared to informal caregivers who had contact with formal caregivers, informal caregivers who had no such contact were significantly more likely to be employed, unmarried, < 55 years old, distant relatives/friends of care recipients; have care recipients getting more intensive formal care but less intensive informal care, secondary caregiver support; and not be living with care recipients. Case-mix adjusted models revealed that the informal caregiver’s employment status and living arrangement with the care recipient were the most significant factors affecting interaction with formal caregivers. When interactions occurred between informal and formal caregivers, the quality was relatively poor, as evidenced by reports of inadequate care and medication instructions by 1 out of 3 informal caregivers. Significant predictors of poor interaction quality included caring for sicker care recipients, care provision from multiple formal caregivers, and higher informal caregiver stress and strain.
Conclusions: Although in-person interactions between caregivers is not always feasible, pursuing alternate modes of contact and ensuring quality communication is paramount in building partnerships between informal and formal caregivers.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Home Care, Caregivers
Related Web page: www.vnsny.org/research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Visiting Nurse Service of New York
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employer