Family Caregiver Needs

Assessment 2014-2015:
A Deeper Look

Presentation to the Maryland Caregivers

Support Coordinating Council
Amy Fuhrmann, M.S., Consultant
Counseling Psychology
University of Maryland
4.2.15

Differences for Male and Female Caregivers

Gender
0.10%
1.00%

13.30%

33% of Female Caregivers provided care for 10+ years, compared with 22% of Male
Caregivers

Female caregivers report statistically significant, higher levels of physical fatigue, emotional
hardship, and financial hardship than male caregivers

Male caregivers tended to be older (15% of male caregivers were 75 or older, compared
with only 6%)

Female caregivers were more likely to be divorced (14% compared with 4%)

More non-white female caregivers (31% compared with 23%)

n= 1,828 (data as of 3/17/15)

85.70%

Male

Female

Differences Age of Caregiver

Average Age of Caregiver: 57
18 to 34 tend to be more ethnically diverse (45% non-white), have
lower income (56% less than $50K household income) take care of a
mother or grandparent (37%), whose primary condition is Alzheimers
(21%), Intellectual Disability (15%), or Chronic Disease (13%)

Age
7.10% 3.70%
18.00%
17.90%

35 to 49 tend to be white (59%), have more income (51% more than

$50K household income), take care of a child (33.4%), whose primary
condition is Intellectual/Developmental Disability (29%), Alzheimers
(17%), or Chronic Disease (17%)

50 to 64 tend to be white (71%), have more income (78% more than

$50K household income), take care of a mother (39%) or child (23%),
whose primary condition is Alzheimers (26%), Chronic Disease (16%),
or Intellectual/Developmental Disability (17%)
65 to 74 tend to be white (77%), have more income (76% more than
$50K household income), take care of a spouse (29%) or Mother
(34%), whose primary condition is Alzheimers (26%), Mobility (24%), or
Chronic Disease (17%)

53.30%

18 to 34

35 to 49

50 to 64

75+ - tend to be white (77%), have moderate resources (63% more

than $50K household income), take care of a spouse/partner (73%),
whose primary condition is Alzheimers (34%), Chronic Disease (14%),
or Mobility (24%)
n= 1,828 (data as of 3/17/15)

Differences By Age of Care Recipient

30.00%

28.40%

25.00%

23%

20.00%

14.70%

15.00%

10.00%

12.30%

8.30%

5.00%

8.30%

4.90%

0.00%

Age of Care Recipient

Under 18

18 to 34

35 to 49

65 to 74

75 to 84

Over 85

50 to 64

Under 18:
63 % have Intellectual/Developmental Disability
Caregivers reported the most need for financial support
(68 %) and a break (62 %)
18 to 34:
63 % have Intellectual/Developmental Disability
81 % of those 18 to 34 have received care for ten or more
years
35 to 49:
20 % have Mental Illness
50 to 64:
23 % have a Chronic Disease (e.g., cancer)
65 to 74:
26 % have Alzheimers/Dementia (22 % Chronic Disease)
75 to 84:
41 % have Alzheimers/Dementia (25% Chronic Disease)
85+:
39 % have Alzheimers/Dementia (24 % Mobility)

Differences By Race/Ethnicity
African American/Black persons twice as likely to care for someone with
HIV/AIDS and more likely than any other group to provide constant care.
Non-white caregivers identified more need for financial support.
Non-white caregivers identified a greater need for information about
government services: White 24 %; Black 33 %; Asian 36 %; Native American 33
%; Other 29 %
More male caregivers are white than Black, Asian, and other groups (2 of 6
Native American caregivers 33% -- were men)
Non-white caregivers reported lower incomes. Under $50K White 22%;
Black 45%; Asian 23%; Native American 50%; Other 29%

Race/Ethnicity of Caregiver
White 100%

White 80 %
Black 7 %
Native American - 3%

White 92%
Asian 2%

White 95%
Black 2.3%

White 68%
Black 27 %
Asian 2 %
White 86%
Black 8 %
Asian 2 %

White 79%
Black 14%
White 75%
Black 13%
White 85%
Black 4%
Asian 4%
Native Amer.- 4%

White 93 %
Other 7 %

White 74%
Black 21%
Asian 3%

White 70 %
Black 15 %
Asian 1%
Native American - 1%

White 77%
Black 17%
Asian 3%

White 79%
Black 6%
Asian 1%

White 42%
Black 52%
Asian 2 %

White 80 %
Black 10 %
Asian 2 %
Native American - .4 %

Baltimore City

White 66%
Black 29%
White 90%
Black 7%

White 34 %
Black 55 %
Native American - 1%

White 31%
Black 60 %
Asian 1 %

White 82%
Black 18%

White 70%
Black 20%
Asian 5%

White 76%
Black 20%

White 50%
Black 44%
Asian 6%

Awareness of the
Only 4% of 18 to 34 year olds knew of the Council, while 21% of 75+ did: Systematic
increase in awareness with age of caregiver.
Of people who are aware of the Council, the most were female (90%), care for their
mother (39%), followed by a spouse (18%), child (17%), and father (10%). Most
provided long-term care (80%) for someone 85+ (34%), 75 to 84 (25%), or 18 to 34
(14%). Most common condition of care recipient was Alzheimers (32%), blindness
(17%), and Intellectual/Developmental Disability (12%)
Of people who were NOT aware of the Council, the most were female (85%), care for
their mother (33%), followed by a child (23%), spouse (17%), and father (9%). Most
provided long-term care (81%) for someone 85+ (28%), 75 to 84 (23%), or 18 to 34
(15%). Most common condition of care recipient was Alzheimers (24%),
Intellectual/Developmental Disability (18%), and Chronic Disease (16%)

Awareness of the Maryland Caregivers

Support Coordinating Council (CONTINUED)
16%

15%

14%

13%

13%

12%

12%
10%

10%

10%
8%

8%

6%

6%
4%
2%
0%
0%

Awareness of Council by Condition

AIDS/HIV

Alzheimer's

Blindness

Chronic Disease

Mental Illness

TBI/PTSD

Mobility

Stroke

Intellectual

Differences from 2002 to 2015 Assessment

2002

679 respondents

2015

1828 respondents

47 % High School Education or Below

10 % High School Education or Below

45 % Provide Constant Care

37 % Provide Constant Care

45 % Need Financial Support

52 % Need Financial Support

56 % Earn less than $50K

27 % Earn less than $50K

35 % Care for Child, 22 % Spouse

24 % Care for Child, 16 % Spouse

26 % Care Recipients had Developmental

Disability

18 % Care Recipients had Developmental

Disability

47 % Work Full-Time

65 % Work Full-Time

20 % Are Retired

24 % Are Retired

*reported differences are all statistically significant

Alzheimers Caregivers
22% African American/Black
53% of care recipients were mothers or mothers-in-law (21% spouse)
25% were from Anne Arundel County

48% of caregivers had been providing care for 1-4 years

51% of caregivers reported considerable or great emotional hardship
31% of caregivers reported regular or great financial hardship

44% identified financial support as a need; 48% needed a break; 23% needed help
understanding how to pay for nursing home; 26% needed information about
government services
15% were aware of the Council before the survey, 21% were aware of respite care

Caregivers for those with

Intellectual/Developmental Challenges
91% female; 16% African American/Black
86% of care recipients were children of caregiver
21% were from Montgomery County (15% Baltimore County)

82% of caregivers had been providing care for 10+ years

41% of caregivers reported considerable or great emotional
hardship

41% of caregivers reported regular or great financial hardship

54% reported financial support as a need; 51% needed a break;
29% needed legal help; 26% needed information about
government services
8% were aware of the Council before the survey; 32% aware of
Respite Care

Caregivers of Veterans
36% cared for a spouse; 38% for a father or father-in-law
33% of recipients had cognitive impairment (Alzheimers); 25% had
chronic disease; 20% had mobility challenges
48% of caregivers had provided care from 1-4 years
40% reported considerable or great emotional hardship
51% needed a break; 27% needed information about government
services

70% said the government can provide more information about services
available
13% were aware of the Council; 16% were aware of Respite Care

20% were from Anne Arundel County (15% from Baltimore County)

Under $50K vs. Over $50K Income

Under $50K

Over $50K

26% Alzheimers; 18% Chronic Disease; 15%

Intl./Dvlp Disability

24% Alzheimers; 15% Chronic Disease, 18%

Intel./Dvlp Disability

44% regular or great financial hardship (63%

need $ support)

27% regular or great financial hardship (40%

need $ support)

47% need free time/break

47% need free time/break

36% need info about gov. services

23% need info about gov. services

14% were aware of Council; 28% aware of

respite care

11% were aware of Council; 24% aware of

respite care

15% from Wicomico County; 12% Anne

Arundel; 10% Baltimore City

14% Montgomery County; 14% Anne Arundel;

13% Baltimore City

37% African American/Black

17% African American/Black

Respite Care
21% of those aware care for someone with Alzheimers;
22% Intellectual/Dvlp. Disability; 16% Chronic Disease
(almost same percentage unaware)
48% of unaware reported need for a break/free time
8% of those aware were male vs. 16% unaware
30% aware were African American/Black vs. 20%
unaware

Next Steps
Recommendations for data use:
Brochures
Findings on redesigned website or reprinted brochures
Providing partners with results relevant to them
Discussion:
How can this data help to make the case for funding or legislative purposes?
What other questions need to be asked and answered through our data?
How can this data best be available to you and our partners in the state?