Analyzing National Datasets to Inform Policy and interventions

The need:

Much of the existing research on disability does not highlight households with multiple people with disabilities, younger caregivers, high-risk groups, and other under-represented populations.

What is the Analyzing National Datasets project?

This project uses national surveys to examine family support for people with disabilities across the lifespan. It focuses on how disability impacts the health and quality of life of people with disabilities and their family supporters and examines how strong support systems possibly reduce negative outcomes.

What does it look at?

The project looks to answer questions related to the following topics:

  • Caregiver quality of care 
  • Caregiver burden and its impact on care
  • Assessing caregiver needs 
  • Underexplored high-risk groups 

How does the Analyzing National Datasets project work?

The project investigates these questions by using collected data on people with disabilities from various age groups, backgrounds, and various conditions.

Who is it for?

The analysis will focus on under-served people with disabilities (ex: rural, racial, and ethnic minorities, people who lack access to formal services) and the ones with high costs related to their needs. The results of this project will be used to inform policies and potential interventions for family supporters of persons with disabilities.

What does the Analyzing National Datasets project include?

Below is the list of datasets analyzed for this research project:

 
                                                                             DATASETS
1. National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)
2. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
3. Mid-Life in the U.S. (MIDUS)
4. Health and Retirement Study (HRS)
5. National Social Life Health & Aging Project (NSHAP)
6. American Community Survey (ACS)
7. National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)
8. National Study of Caregiving (NSOC)

Reports

Briefing Report: Households with Multiple Persons with Disability in Pennsylvania

NCFS Caregiver Profile: A Closer Look at Spousal Caregivers

NCFS Caregiver Profile: A Closer Look at Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren

Publications

Friedman, E.M., Beach, S.R, & Schulz, R. (2023). Out-of-pocket health care spending at older ages: Do caregiving arrangements matter?  Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(5), 1013-1021. doi:10.1177/07334648231152401.

Kim, H., Beach, S., Friedman, E., Donovan, H., & Schulz, R. (2023). Effects of childcare, work, and caregiving intensity on male and female family caregivers. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 78(6), 959-968. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbad022. PMID: 36757105.

Klinedinst, T.C., Beach, S., Donovan, H., Rodakowski, J., & Campbell, G. (in press). The relationship between personal and contextual factors and participation restriction in mid-life caregivers. Journal of Aging and Health, doi:10.1177/08982643221150051. PMID: 36617465.

Mueller, A., Beach, S.R., Bowers, B.J., & Fields, B. (2022). Relationship between health care interactions and care partner burden. Families, Systems, & Health, 40(2), 225-231. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000675.

Yu, J.A., Bayer, N.D., Beach, S., Kuo, D.Z., & Houtrow, A.J. (2022). A national profile of families and caregivers of children with disabilities and/or medical complexity. Academic Pediatrics, 22(8), 1489-1498. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2022.08.004.

Schulz, R., Beach, S. R., & Friedman, E. M. (2020). Caregiving Factors as Predictors of Care Recipient MortalityThe American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry