Improving Respite Outcomes for Caregivers: Who Benefits and Under What Conditions?

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) pose a substantial caregiving burden in the United States, yet efforts to improve caregiver well-being have seen mixed results. We ask whether an app-based intervention (N = 143) to prioritize caregiver respite can substantially improve the caregiving experience, and whether these benefits are moderated by (1) caregiver demographics and (2) conditions of the caregiving situation (such as baseline impairment). Constructing curvilinear growth models to assess changes over a 20-week period, we find significant improvements in the positive aspects of caregiving (PAC). Greater benefits accrue to women, lower-income households, caregivers with a college degree, and caregivers who provide ≥80% of care to their family member. No differences in PAC growth are detected for care recipient memory and behavior problems, caregiver age, or caregiver race. We conclude that efforts to improve caregiver well-being may be especially effective for disadvantaged groups, with the notable exception of educational attainment.