Correlates of Formal Service Use and Help-Seeking Among Caregivers of Older Adults

Informal caregiving plays a critical role in affecting older adults' quality of life. Utilizing organized and effective formal support helps mitigate caregiver burdens and meet caregiving demands. This study examined the correlates of formal service use and help-seeking in a nationally representative sample of caregivers of older adults, drawing on data from 2017 National Study of Caregiving. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate potential correlates, including predisposing (e.g., age), enabling (e.g., education), and need (e.g., care recipient's dementia status) factors. Results showed that racial minorities, better education, caring for older adults with dementia, and more ADL and IADL limitations were associated with greater service use. Caregiver role overload was positively associated with both service use and help-seeking. Findings address the knowledge gap by identifying the risk and protective factors for both service use and help-seeking, which can help practitioners identify the at-risk caregivers and direct tailored services accordingly.