Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

This study examines associations of caregiver status with LGBTQ+-identity social support, relationships, and care outcomes among LGBTQ+ older adults.

We use LGBTQ+ Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study Wave 3 data (QSNAPS; N = 982). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between caregiver status and outcomes concerning LGBTQ-identity social support, care, and care recipient relationships.

Eighty respondents (8.1%) care for 90 individuals with neurocognitive disorders, a majority of whom are parents of the respondent. Caregivers were half as likely to have family support (p <0.05); 40.6% less likely to have coworker support (p <0.1); and 45.6% less likely to have neighbor support (p <0.05) for LGBTQ+ identities. Caregivers were more likely to receive practical help from others (p <0.01) but experienced concerning issues related to their own access to healthcare.

Understanding LGBTQ+-identity social support and care access can inform targeted interventions to reduce LGBTQ+ caregiver health disparities.