Racial Differences in the Dementia Caregiving Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

Abstract

ObjectivesGiven racial disparities in both dementia and COVID-19, non-Hispanic Black (Black) dementia caregivers (CGs) may be at greater risk for care burden during the COVID-19 pandemic than non-Hispanic White (White) CGs. This study investigates the impact of dementia care provision on CGs’ quality of life by race using the 2020 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) Family Members and Friends COVID-19 data (FF).MethodsThis study features a secondary analysis of FF data (2020–2021), including 216 Black and 1,204 White CGs. We used ANOVA to determine differences in caregiving stressors (i.e., changes in providing help with activities of daily living [ADL], instrumental ADL [IADL], and emotional support). OLS regression was used to investigate the moderating effects of dementia care on the associations of race with perceived well-being, care burden, and self-reported health and to conduct subgroups analyses of Black and White dementia CGs.ResultsBlack dementia CGs provided significantly more help with ADL before and during the COVID-19 pandemic than Black non-dementia, White dementia, and White non-dementia CGs. Dementia care status did not moderate the associations between race and CG outcomes. For Black dementia CGs, changes in objective stressors (assistance with ADL and IADL) were associated with care burden and well-being. For White CGs, the provision of emotional support was associated with care burden and well-being.DiscussionThis study highlights increased caregiving demands during the pandemic amplified racial differences in CG stress. Findings suggest that outreach to reduce CG stress and burden is critical for Black dementia CGs.