Table 1.
Background Characteristics of Spousal Caregivers
| Caregivers (N = 345) |
|
|---|---|
| Characteristic | M (SD) |
| CG Age in years | 73.39 (9.00) |
| CR Age in years | 76.88 (7.50) |
| CG Chronic conditions | 2.09 (1.42) |
| CG Psychological well-being | 3.41 (0.57) |
| CG ADL/IADL assistance | 5.15 (2.47) |
| CG Service use | 0.23 (0.51) |
| CR Chronic conditions | 3.05 (1.46) |
| CG Health system tasks | 2.57 (1.65) |
| CG Medical/nursing tasks | 2.48 (2.02) |
| CG Emotional difficulties | 1.31 (1.66) |
| CG Physical difficulties | 1.05 (1.60) |
| CG Gains | 3.54 (0.46) |
|
n (%)
|
|
| CG Gender (female) | 204 (59.1) |
| CR Gender (female) | 142 (41.2) |
| CR Dementia status | 62 (18.0) |
| CG Informal support | 158 (45.8) |
| CG Paid help | 67 (19.4) |
| CG Educational attainment | |
| High school graduate | 106 (30.7) |
| College graduate | 34 (9.9) |
| Post graduate | 24 (7.0) |
| CG Health system tasks | |
| Ordering medication | 233 (67.5) |
| Scheduling appointments | 219 (63.5) |
| Speaking to medical providers | 194 (56.2) |
| Changing/adding insurance plan | 110 (31.9) |
| Other insurance matters | 130 (37.7) |
| CG Medical/nursing tasks | |
| Keeping track of medications | 209 (60.6) |
| Managing medical tasks | 55 (15.9) |
| Giving shots/injections | 51 (14.8) |
| Foot care | 136 (39.4) |
| Caring for skin wounds/sores | 132 (38.3) |
| Caring for teeth/dentures | 64 (18.6) |
| Helping with exercises | 96 (27.8) |
| Helping with special diet | 113 (32.8) |