Do Caregivers Benefit More From Educational and Volunteer Activities Than Their Noncaregiving Peers?

Abstract

Informal caregivers are a critical component of the US long-term care system, but caregivers often experience poor physical and mental health as a result of strain from the caregiving role. Engagement in community-based educational and volunteer activities contributes to older adult well-being, but previous studies have not assessed whether the effects of these types of engagement are different for older adults who are also caregivers. Using a sample of participants in educational and volunteer activities sponsored by a national nonprofit organization, we find that participants who are caregivers report more benefit from these community-based activities than their noncaregiving counterparts. Connecting caregivers to existing community-based activities may be an efficient strategy for improving caregiver well-being.

Keywords:

• caregiving
• long-term care
• volunteering
• productive activity
• well-being

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John A. Hartford Foundation.