Caregiver burden and nursing home admission of frail elderly persons

The National Long-Term Care Survey, 1982-1984, and the Informal Caregivers Survey were used to test the importance of caregiver burden for risk of admission to a nursing home. This study was based on a subsample of 940 older persons with sole spouse or adult child caregivers in 1982. Using logistic regression, nursing home entrants (127) were compared to 624 continuous community residents. Characteristics of the older person included age, race (White), and number of instrumental activities of daily living limitations. Predictors related to the caregiving context included caregiver burden and use of formal services.