Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2021
Department
Health Studies
Abstract
The objective of this exploratory study was to explore potential associations between changes to caregiver burden (CB) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rural-urban status using a nationally representative sample of 761 informal caregivers. Tertiles of two measures of rural-urban status were used: Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) and population density. Bivariate and multivariable binary and ordinal logistic regression were used to asses study objectives. Using RUCAs, rural informal caregivers were more than twice as likely as urban informal caregivers to report a substantial increase in CB due to COVID-19 (OR 2.27, 95% CI [1.28–4.02]). Similar results were observed for population density tertiles (OR 2.20, 95% CI [1.22–3.96]). Having a COVID-19 diagnosis was also significantly associated with increased CB. Understanding and addressing the root causes of rural-urban disparities in CB among informal caregivers is critical to improving caregiver health and maintaining this critical component of the healthcare system.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Volume
7
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Cohen, S. A., Kunicki, Z. J., Nash, C. C., Drohan, M. M., & Greaney, M. L. (2021). Rural-Urban Differences in Caregiver Burden Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among a National Sample of Informal Caregivers. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 7. https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214211025124
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214211025124
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.