Use of Formal Community Resources by Spouse Caregivers of Chronically Ill Adults

Abstract

This descriptive correlational study examined the use of formal community resources of spouse caregivers of progressively chronically ill individuals. The convenience sample was 61 individuals with a definitive diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and their spouse caregivers. Results indicated that 34.4% of the sample used community resources. Relationships among caregiver demographics, extent of caregiving tasks, subjective burden, perceived uncertainty of the caregiver, functional incapacity of the chronically ill individual, level of social support, and the use of formal community resources were analyzed. Positively correlated (P < 0.05) with the criterion variable of use of formal community resources were the variables of caregiver age (r_pb= 0.342), number of caregiving tasks (r_pb= 0.424), caregiver employment level (X²= 8.25), and functional incapacity of the care receiver (r_pb= 0.565). Results of discriminate function analysis indicated that three variables, functional incapacity, caregiver age, and number of caregiving tasks, correctly classified users versus nonusers of community resources 83.6% of the time.