Abstract Details

Title Co-occurring Neuropsychiatric Conditions and Functional Status as Predictors of Caregiver Quality of Life in Older Veterans

Topic Aging, Dementia, and Behavioral Neurology

Presentation(s) P5 - Poster Session 5 (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 12-005

Objective To examine how care recipient functional ability and neuropsychiatric conditions predict caregiver QoL among caregivers of U.S. veterans aged ≥65 years.

Background Informal caregivers of older adults frequently experience diminished quality of life (QoL) due to the combined challenges of functional decline and neuropsychiatric conditions in care recipients. Veterans who exhibit high rates of both offer a unique opportunity to understand how these co-occurring factors jointly influence caregiver outcomes.

Design/Methods A cross-sectional national survey included 504 informal caregivers of older veterans. Measures included Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), presence of neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, PTSD, anxiety, neurodegenerative disease), and a Caregiver Quality of Life Questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regressions assessed associations between caregiver QoL and care recipient factors, adjusting for caregiver demographics and cohabitation status.

Results

Over half of veterans (54%) had a neuropsychiatric condition. Caregivers of these veterans reported lower QoL than those without (mean = 66.7 vs 72.6; p < .001). In adjusted models, higher ADL independence predicted better caregiver QoL (β = .15, p = .002), whereas the presence of any neuropsychiatric condition predicted poorer caregiver QoL (β = –.12, p = .012). Among caregivers of veterans with neuropsychiatric conditions (n = 272), depression was the only specific diagnosis independently associated with lower caregiver QoL (β = –.18, p = .002), even after controlling for functional status.

Conclusions Functional limitations and depression in care recipients exert independent, additive burdens on caregiver well-being. Screening and treatment of depression in older patients, coupled with interventions promoting functional independence, may enhance caregiver QoL and reduce downstream stress and healthcare utilization in neurology and geriatric care settings.

Authors/Disclosures
Lauren R. Moo, MD, FAAN (VA Bedford Healthcare System) PRESENTER	Dr. Moo has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Pilltrax. An immediate family member of Dr. Moo has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Taylor and Francis. Dr. Moo has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Smith Mirabella Blake. The institution of Dr. Moo has received research support from VA HSR&D. The institution of Dr. Moo has received research support from VA Office of Rural Health. Dr. Moo has received research support from NIH.
Victoria Ngo	Victoria Ngo has nothing to disclose.
Elizabeth Chamberlin	Elizabeth Chamberlin has nothing to disclose.
Elizabeth (Beth) Marfeo (Tufts University Department of Community Health)	Elizabeth (Beth) Marfeo has nothing to disclose.
Steven Shirk	Steven Shirk has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Grant Reviewer with ICRG.

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