Background and Objectives Few studies have simultaneously compared caregivers in all stages of the adult life course. This study examined age differences in associations among primary stressors (caregiver burden which includes hours of provided care and number of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living performed), secondary stressors (financial and employment strains), and caregiver outcomes (emotional strain and physical strain). Research Design Using Pearlin’s Stress Process Model (1990) and the Caregiving in the United States 2015 dataset, 1,156 caregivers were identified (including 278 young adults aged 18–39 years, 464 midlife adults aged 40–59 years, and 414 older adults aged 60–80 years). Results Post hoc analyses revealed that compared to older adults, young adults reported less caregiver burden, less physical strain, and greater financial strain. Linear regression analyses revealed associations between caregiver burden and financial strain with emotional and physical strain for all respondents. Discussion and Implications Findings emphasize the need for age-specific interventions.

Background and Objectives Older adults can expect to live between 6 and 10 years after they give up driving, but driving reduction and cessation (DRC) are not equally experienced by all groups. Individual characteristics such as poor health, impaired vision, older age, and female gender are known to affect DRC. Using cumulative disadvantage theory as a guide, this study assessed the role played by wealth in DRC among older adults. Research Design and Methods Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression techniques. This allowed for the effect of each predictor on the odds of engagement in a given driving status (full driving, driving reduction [DR], and driving cessation [DC]) to be compared to each of the others. Results The final sample included 6,387 participants. After controlling for the effect of covariates, less wealth was associated with higher odds of DR compared to full driving, DC compared to full driving, and DC compared to DR. Confirming previous research, several other factors were also significantly related to driving status including age, health, vision, gender, race, education, relationship status, household size, and work status. Discussion and Implications The influence of wealth on driving status among older adults represents another disadvantage unequally distributed to some in older adulthood. Those with less wealth will have fewer resources to meet their mobility needs using alternatives and may already be facing additional financial constraints due to worse health and other challenges associated with lower socioeconomic status.

Despite the growing proportion of older adults in the United States, federal and state funding for nonmedical supportive services remains limited. To meet increasing demand, some communities across the nation are exploring alternative funding sources for aging services. Although no systematic database exists to track such local programs, through an array of data sources including a national survey, telephone contacts, and a web review, we identified 15 states that are using local funding to support aging services. Communities are using a variety of local revenue streams, such as property tax levies, payroll, and sales taxes to provide services for older adults and/or their family or friend caregivers. There are considerable differences in community approaches including the following: amount of revenue generated, service eligibility criterion, type of services covered, and management infrastructure. Critical policy questions surrounding equity issues within and across states are raised as communities create these alternative funding mechanisms.

Objectives: Some communities across the nation are utilizing alternative funding sources to better support home and community-based services for older adults. Methods: A variety of methods identified local initiatives across the United States. An online survey was distributed to a total of 377 communities in 15 states identified as using locally raised funds to provide aging services, yielding a 55% response rate. Results: Total funding from programs generated almost 400 million dollars annually with funding ranging from $8000-$47 million. Commonly provided services with local funds include home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, and homemaker services with provision varying by the size of the levy initiative. Additionally, six in 10 initiatives reported local funds being used to provide at least one family or friend caregiver service. Conclusion: Locally-funded initiatives fill a gap in long-term services needs for older adults, yet policy concerns regarding potential inequities across states and communities warrant attention.

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