Service needs and use: A further look at the experiences of African American and white caregivers seeking Alzheimer's assistance

Abstract

The experiences of 150 African American and 150 white caregivers of persons with dementia indicate that although they differ in several characteristics, they are seeking assistance at comparable periods in their caregiving careers. Reasons for calling Alzheimer's Associations were similar although African Americans have a greater interest in services such as home help and day care. However, both report high levels of interest in chapter services and are positive about their plans to use them. At the end of 12 months, neither group has followed through on these plans with both groups stating that they were not ready for services or did not need services, while during the same period, both their own status and that of their relative had deteriorated.

Attitudes toward Community Services Use in Dementia Care among Korean Americans

“…Past studies indicated that familiarity plays a significant role in service use (Jang et al, 2007(Jang et al, & 2008 and lack of awareness has been identified as one of the most common barriers for service utilization (Casado et al, 2011;Cox, 1999;Daker-White et al, 2002). The findings of this study support these notions.…”

“…Higher levels of social support are also related to more service use by informal caregivers (primarily Whites and African Americans) (Hong, 2010). Moreover, lack of awareness/knowledge about community services was one of the common reasons given for not using services among Whites, African Americans and/or Hispanics (Casado et al, 2011;Cox, 1999;Daker-White et al, 2002) as well as in Korean Americans (Moon, Lubben, & Villa, 1998).…”

“…Researchers suggest that the quality, availability and cost of services (Stommel, Collins, Given & Given, 1999) as well as a lack of awareness/knowledge about available services (Casado, van Vulpen, & Davis, 2011;Cox, 1999;Daker-White, Beattie, Gilliard, & Means, 2002) are reasons for service underutilization. For ethnic minorities, varying cultural perceptions of illness (Daker-White et al, 2002) and cultural norms about family responsibility and elder care were suggested as additional barriers to service utilization (Dilworth-Anderson & Gibson, 2002).…”

Hard Lives, God’s Help, and Struggling Through: Caregiving in Arkansas Delta

“…c) Service use and support structures i. Formal services (Cox 1999;Kosloski et al 1999;Miller and Guo 2000;) ii. Informal support (Cox 1993;Williams and Dilworth-Anderson 2002) Yet, despite this documented diversity, there is seemingly little understanding of the bases for many of these differences (American Geriatric Society 2001;Janevic and Connell 2001).…”

Factors Associated with the Health and Well-being of Dementia Caregivers

“…with particular attention paid to the role of familism, the belief that families should provide care to their relatives, and cultural norms that dictate appropriate role behaviors [26]. Such values ay actually increase caregiver distress as families are reluctant to use formal supports [27] or to institutionalize [28]. It is important to recognize that familism is a multi-dimensional concept that has both positive and negative effects on caregivers.…”