摘要：Introduction: Increases in life expectancy and the underlying age structure of the
Canadian population have contributed to dramatic increases in the number of seniors
who are caregivers. While caregiving is associated with several adverse health impacts,
there is a need to better understand how these impacts might be different among older
caregivers, and whether those impacts are modified by socioeconomic status.
Methods: We sought to address these research gaps by using cross-sectional data provided
by participants of the 2012 Canadian General Social Survey (GSS). Descriptive
analyses were performed to compare the self-reported health impacts that participants
attributed to caregiving, and how these varied by age and income. Logistic regression
analyses were performed to identify which factors were associated with self-reported
impacts on overall health among caregivers 65 years of age and older.
Results: The demographic characteristics of the care-providers varied substantially by
age with older caregivers having lower incomes and devoting more time to caregiving
relative to those who were younger. The self-reported impacts of caregiving on overall
health were greatest among those between the ages of 35 and 64, and this pattern was
evident across all income groups. Feelings of loneliness and social isolation as a result
of caregiving responsibilities appeared to be mitigated by both greater age and income.
However, across all age groups, caregiving was more likely to adversely impact exercise
habits, healthy eating, and alcohol consumption than to promote more positive
behaviours.
Conclusion: Providing care impacts health behaviours and mental health regardless of
age and income. However, our findings suggest that older caregivers (who are most
often women)—who provide the most hours of care and on reduced incomes relative to
younger caregivers—appear less impacted in terms of health behaviours, perhaps as a
result of fewer competing demands relative to younger caregivers. Taken together, these
findings suggest that support systems must consider caregiver impacts that vary in complex
ways across age, sex, and income.
