Living with and Caring for Older Family Members

Abstract

Using the strengths-based Caregiver Well-Being Scale, this research provides social workers with strategies for assessing and promoting caregiver well-being. One hundred eighteen family caregivers (64 spouse and 54 adult child caregivers) are used to examine caregiver relationship to the care-recipient and 138 caregivers are included in the analyses for coresidential arrangement with the care-recipient. Predictors of well-being are highlighted for each group. Caregiver competence and depression predict well-being for spouse, adult child and non-co-resident caregivers. Depression is the only predictor for co-resident caregivers. Using the activities of living sub-scale, depression predicts wellbeing for all groups. Additionally, caregiver strain relates to spouse wellbeing. Implications for social work practice with family caregivers are highlighted.