Nuestro día (our day): The daily experiences of Latino ADRD family caregivers

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) among the Latino population is 1.5 times higher than non‐Hispanic whites. Latinos develop ADRDs earlier and experience more severe symptoms than other ethnic and racial groups. Further, comorbidities, including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, have also been observed among Latino individuals living with ADRDs — introducing additional health issues, exacerbating ADRD‐related symptoms, and accelerating functional decline. Given these observed disparities, Latino ADRD family caregivers are uniquely susceptible to increased caregiving stress that can negatively impact their mental health over time. Previous studies have reported on stress and well‐being among Latino ADRD caregivers; however, relatively little is known about the day‐to‐day caregiving experiences and mental health of Latino caregivers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine daily contextual factors and variations in depression symptom experience among Latino ADRD family caregivers.MethodsA national sample of Latino family caregivers (N = 71) completed daily diary surveys over 21 days (n = 2,481). Mixed‐level modes were used to examine relationships between daily caregiving stress, stress moderators, and depression‐related symptoms.ResultsLatino ADRD caregivers were more likely to report depression (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03‐1.25, p < 0.01) on a given day when behavioral symptoms of dementia were present and perceived as more bothersome than usual. A decrease in the daily odds of depression was observed on days when Latino ADRD caregivers reported receiving social support (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58‐0.82, p < 0.01), engaging in social activities with friends or other family members (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.25‐0.58, p < 0.01), and engaging in self‐care activities (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.46‐0.92, p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study offers insight into the daily experiences and mental health of Latino ADRD family caregivers by identifying specific stressors and stress moderators associated with depressive symptoms experienced on a given day. The results of this study highlight modifiable factors for ecologically valid and culturally relevant interventions that mitigate the adverse effects of caregiving stress. Such interventions are critically needed as Latino caregivers are an underserved and underrepresented population in dementia care and aging research.