This article presents the findings of a self-report study of the consequences of being an informal caregiver in Malaysia. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine Malaysian efforts in assisting informal caregivers, based on an analysis of the issues and concerns raised by the caregivers themselves. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of informal caregivers in 2009. This sample comprised parents, spouses and/or adult siblings, and adult children, caring for their children, spouses or siblings and parents who were chronically ill and/or had a disability. Of 300 prospective participants, only 175 could be located (58%), but all those contacted agreed to participate. Respondents were randomly selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire to identify the emotional, financial, social and physical issues consequent upon being a caregiver. Most respondents reported that their care-giving responsibilities had impacted their emotional, financial, social and/or physical well-being. Inadequate and/or uncertain income was by far the greatest concern followed in descending order by social, physical and emotional consequences. The one-way analysis of variance showed significant differences among the three categories of caregivers with respect to physical and emotional consequences. The findings show that care-giving has detrimental effects on the lives of informal caregivers, and that they are in significant need of social support to help them deal with care-giving tasks and responsibilities. Based on the findings, an integrated social support programme is proposed, tailored to the needs of informal caregivers.

Projecting social support needs of informal caregivers in Malaysia.

Previous research has linked volunteering with a catalog of well-being indicators; however, it is unclear whether all volunteers derive the same benefit. The aim of this article is to examine the perceived benefits of volunteering among older people and to determine whether the benefits differ by volunteer characteristics. The study found that volunteers reported a wide range of benefits emerging from their volunteering, including increased socialization and self-worth. There was some evidence to suggest that benefits vary by volunteer characteristics with the older-old, the less educated, and the retired reporting the greatest benefit. In addition, different subgroups may benefit in different ways. Recognizing and responding to the potential benefits of volunteering to different groups is important in the recruitment and retention of volunteers.

The Perceived Benefits of Participating in Voluntary Activities Among Older People: Do They Differ by Volunteer Characteristics?

Background the health impacts of caregiving and volunteering are rarely studied concurrently, despite the potential for both synergies and conflicts. This population-based study examines the association of these activities on health and subsequent mortality. Method a census-based record-linkage study of 244,429 people aged 65 and over, with cohort characteristics, caregiving and volunteering status, and presence of chronic health conditions derived from the Census returns. Mortality risk was assessed over the following 45 months with adjustment for baseline characteristics. Results caregivers and volunteers were individually more mobile than those undertaking neither activity; caregivers who also volunteered were more mobile than those who did not volunteer, but no less likely to suffer from poor mental health. Both caregiving and volunteering were separately associated with reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.74: 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.71, 0.77 and HR = 0.76: 0.73, 0.81, respectively); the lowest mortality was found amongst light caregivers who also volunteered (HR = 0.53: 95% CIs = 0.45, 0.62), compared to those engaged in neither. There was no evidence of a multiplicative effect of caregiving and volunteering at more intense levels of caregiving. Conclusion there is a large overlap in caregiving and volunteering activities with complex associations with health status. There is some evidence that combining caregiving and volunteering activities, for those involved in less intense levels of caregiving, maybe associated with lower mortality risk than associated with either activity alone. Further research is needed to understand which aspects of caregiving and volunteering are best and for whom and in which circumstances.

/pdf/caregiving-volunteering-or-both-comparing-effects-on-health-2doqkllmls.pdf

Caregiving, volunteering or both? Comparing effects on health and mortality using census-based records from almost 250,000 people aged 65 and over.

In this article, I examine recent ethnographic data on the subjective meanings of volunteering expressed by Chinese older adult volunteers working within community-based non-governmental-organization (NGO) projects supporting aging in place for ailing elders and their family caregivers in Shanghai, China. In examining this data, I analyze what older adults’ community-based volunteering means to them in the context of broader questions about the potential for bringing together gerontological agendas for productive aging and community-based social support for the aged. I argue that these Chinese older adult volunteers bring special strengths to community volunteering in support of the aged, and that their choice to serve community members of advanced age also brings distinctive benefits to them as volunteers. This pairing of older volunteers with senior community recipients has demonstrated excellent potential, as well as some important challenges.

Senior Volunteering in Service to Community Elders in Shanghai: Bringing Together Agendas for Productive Aging and Community-Based Social Support for the Aged in China

Research on the influence of volunteering on mental health outcomes has not placed enough focus on African American female caregivers who are at risk for adverse outcomes such as depression. This study addresses this gap by examining the mechanism through which volunteering might influence depressive symptoms using data collected from 521 African American female caregivers of older adults. Regression results indicate that although volunteering is inversely associated with depressive symptoms, self-esteem mediates this relationship. Findings suggest inclusion in volunteering for African American female caregivers may be relevant to promotion of their mental well-being.

Self-Esteem Mediates the Relationship Between Volunteering and Depression for African American Caregivers

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.

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

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