Medicaid home care services found to benefit more than just the patient

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Caring for family members with physical and cognitive health issues has been associated with increased health risks for the caregivers. This longitudinal study published in JAMA Health Forum reveals that the self-rated mental health of family caregivers improved markedly after Medicaid home care services were utilized by the family member in need of care. Authors of the study include doctoral student Emily S. Unger, BA, David C. Grabowski, PhD, Jarvis…

Study shines light on how caregivers are faring during COVID-19

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Our Sloan Fellow on Aging and Work Sung S. Park, PhD, has authored a paper published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B that examines the physical and mental health of caregivers (those offering short-term and long-term care) vs. non-caregivers during the early stages of COVID-19. Findings point to caregivers, in general, faring worse than non-caregivers in terms of fatigue and mental health, with long-term caregivers suffering more physical symptoms…

CNAs who also balance family caregiver roles make more trips to ER than their peers

RWJF Health & Society Scholar Jessica Williams, PhD, is co-author on a study by the Work, Family & Health Network (WFHN) that reveals that CNAs who also care for children or elders (double duty) as well as those who care for both generations (triple duty) utilize acute care services (emergency room/other urgent care facilities) more than CNAs without those same informal, family caregiving roles.