Association of Caregiving Receipt With Mental Health Utilization in a National Cohort of Older Adults

Objective

There exist significant age disparities in mental health (MH) utilization, such that older adults, including older veterans, are much less likely to use MH services. In-home caregivers represent a novel, yet understudied, pathway to increase appropriate utilization. We sought to examine the association between receiving caregiving assistance and MH utilization and test moderation effects of cognitive status and depression severity in a sample of older veterans.

Methods

Cross-sectional, mixed effects logistic regression with moderation analyses was used with a unique data resource combining survey data from the 2000–2012 U.S. Health and Retirement Study with Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare administrative records. The analytic sample included N=1,957 Community-dwelling veterans (mean age 68.2 [9.7]), primarily male (96.5%) and non-Hispanic white (77.0%). Measures included MH utilization extracted from VA records or self-report; CESD-8 for depressive symptoms; and the Langa-Weir cognitive status classification using the modified TICS.

Results

After accounting for demographics, spousal caregiver availability, health factors, and socioeconomic status, caregiving receipt was associated with two-fold odds of MH utilization, compared to receiving no assistance (8,839 person-year observations; OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.54–2.65) and remained similar following VA policy changes to enhance MH access. Exploratory analyses revealed that categories of cognition and depressive symptoms may moderate the association.

Conclusion

Receipt of any in-home caregiving is associated with increased likelihood of MH use by older adults. Caregivers may represent an underutilized resource to reduce age-related mental health access disparities.