Closer caregiver and care-recipient relationships predict lower informal costs of dementia care: The Cache County Dementia Progression Study

Abstract

Introduction: Identifying factors associated with lower dementia care costs is essential. We examined whether two caregiver factors were associated with lower costs of informal care.

Methods: A total of 271 care dyads of the Cache County Dementia Study were included. Estimates of informal costs were based on caregiver reports of time spent in care-related activities and inflation-adjusted 2012 Utah median hourly wages. Caregiver coping and emotional closeness with the care-recipient were assessed using the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised and Relationship Closeness Scale, respectively.

Results: Higher closeness was associated with 24% lower costs (expβ = 0.763 [95% confidence interval: 0.583-0.999]) in linear mixed models controlling for demographics and baseline dementia severity and duration. Problem-focused coping was not associated with informal costs (P = .354).

Discussion: Caregiver closeness, a potentially modifiable factor, predicted lower dementia informal care costs over time. Future studies examining the care environment in closer dyads may identify specific care-related behaviors or strategies that are associated with lower costs.

Keywords: Caregiver; Informal costs of dementia; Relationship closeness.

Figure 1. Informal dementia care costs per day by relationship closeness, caregiver co-residency, and kin relationship

The plots show lower mean daily costs of informal dementia care for closer caregiver relationship. Note the higher costs for co-residing dyads.