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Migrant care workers as protective factor against caregiver burden : Results from a longitudinal analysis of the EUROFAMCARE study in Italy

Chiatti, Carlos ; Di Rosa, Mirko ; Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella ; Manzoli, Lamberto ; Rimland, Joseph M. and Lamura, Giovanni (2013) In Aging and Mental Health 17(5). p.609-614
Abstract

Objective: The aim of the analysis is to assess the impact of privately employed migrant care workers (MCWs) on the burden of Italian family members who care for a disabled older person. Methods: EUROFAMCARE is a one-year prospective survey carried out to provide evidence on the availability and use of support services by family carers of older people in Europe. In Italy, 990 family caregivers were enrolled and successful follow-ups were completed for 863 subjects. The survey also assessed the level of caregiver burden using the COPE index, which has three sub-sections: 'Positive Value' (PV), 'Quality of Support' (QS) and 'Negative Impact' (NI). We used the one-year change of the COPE-NI as dependent variable and we realised multilevel... (More)

Objective: The aim of the analysis is to assess the impact of privately employed migrant care workers (MCWs) on the burden of Italian family members who care for a disabled older person. Methods: EUROFAMCARE is a one-year prospective survey carried out to provide evidence on the availability and use of support services by family carers of older people in Europe. In Italy, 990 family caregivers were enrolled and successful follow-ups were completed for 863 subjects. The survey also assessed the level of caregiver burden using the COPE index, which has three sub-sections: 'Positive Value' (PV), 'Quality of Support' (QS) and 'Negative Impact' (NI). We used the one-year change of the COPE-NI as dependent variable and we realised multilevel regression models to estimate the longitudinal predictors of caregivers' burden increase. Results: At a cross-sectional level, most burdened caregivers are those caring for a demented relative (COPE-NI = 13.6), with no educational title (14.5) and looking after their own spouses (15.1). Longitudinally those employing an MCW are significantly protected against burden increase (regression coefficient: -1.52; p<0.01) while those who cannot rely on the support of other family members are exposed to the risk of burden increase (0.991; p<0.05). Other formal services do not have any protective effect. Conclusion: Our study suggests that employing an MCW, rather than using formal services, is associated with a reduction of caregiving burden. Further research should assess whether the shift in care responsibilities to the MCWs also implies a transfer of care burden, and understand how these workers can be better supported by existing formal services.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Health service use, Stress/burden, Usage
in
Aging and Mental Health
volume
17
issue
5
pages
609 - 614
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:23418850
  • scopus:84880161089
ISSN
1360-7863
DOI
10.1080/13607863.2013.765830
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
635438e8-72b3-4d5d-8c39-23c96ec17087
date added to LUP
2018-08-07 15:05:04
date last changed
2024-04-01 07:15:30
@article{635438e8-72b3-4d5d-8c39-23c96ec17087,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: The aim of the analysis is to assess the impact of privately employed migrant care workers (MCWs) on the burden of Italian family members who care for a disabled older person. Methods: EUROFAMCARE is a one-year prospective survey carried out to provide evidence on the availability and use of support services by family carers of older people in Europe. In Italy, 990 family caregivers were enrolled and successful follow-ups were completed for 863 subjects. The survey also assessed the level of caregiver burden using the COPE index, which has three sub-sections: 'Positive Value' (PV), 'Quality of Support' (QS) and 'Negative Impact' (NI). We used the one-year change of the COPE-NI as dependent variable and we realised multilevel regression models to estimate the longitudinal predictors of caregivers' burden increase. Results: At a cross-sectional level, most burdened caregivers are those caring for a demented relative (COPE-NI = 13.6), with no educational title (14.5) and looking after their own spouses (15.1). Longitudinally those employing an MCW are significantly protected against burden increase (regression coefficient: -1.52; p&lt;0.01) while those who cannot rely on the support of other family members are exposed to the risk of burden increase (0.991; p&lt;0.05). Other formal services do not have any protective effect. Conclusion: Our study suggests that employing an MCW, rather than using formal services, is associated with a reduction of caregiving burden. Further research should assess whether the shift in care responsibilities to the MCWs also implies a transfer of care burden, and understand how these workers can be better supported by existing formal services.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chiatti, Carlos and Di Rosa, Mirko and Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella and Manzoli, Lamberto and Rimland, Joseph M. and Lamura, Giovanni}},
  issn         = {{1360-7863}},
  keywords     = {{Health service use; Stress/burden; Usage}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{609--614}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Aging and Mental Health}},
  title        = {{Migrant care workers as protective factor against caregiver burden : Results from a longitudinal analysis of the EUROFAMCARE study in Italy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.765830}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13607863.2013.765830}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}