Visualizing Veterans' Care at Home: Understanding the Structure, Function, and Adequacy of Caregiving Networks

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Veterans Affairs

Background:

• Older adults often depend on extensive networks of paid and unpaid caregivers.
• Deficiencies in care networks can result in unmet needs and adverse health outcomes.
• Understanding care network dynamics is crucial for effective elder care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structure, function, and adequacy of care networks among older veterans.
• To identify unmet needs and informal support systems within veterans' care networks.

Main Methods:

• Utilized care mapping, a collaborative visual tool, to explore care networks.
• Conducted care mapping sessions with 10 Veteran and caregiver dyads/triads.
• Analyzed the composition and perceived adequacy of care networks.

Main Results:

• Veterans reported an average of 3 close care partners.
• Care maps revealed informal supports and identified unmet needs, such as home health aide services.
• Network adequacy was generally perceived as sufficient, irrespective of network structure.

Conclusions:

• Care network structures vary, and there is no universal model for adequacy.
• Veterans often lacked contingency plans (Plan B) for primary caregiver unavailability.
• Health systems can leverage care network insights to better direct home-based and community support services.