Li Lydia W, Fries Brant E
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, USA.
Gerontologist. 2005 Apr;45(2):206-15. doi: 10.1093/geront/45.2.206.
Adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and disability levels, this study examines whether differences exist in the structure and function of community-dwelling Black and White frail elders' informal care networks.
Data from in-person assessments of Michigan's Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver applicants were analyzed by using logistic and ordinary least squares regression. The sample consisted of 936 Black and 3,182 White frail elderly persons.
When sociodemographic characteristics were controlled for, racial differences were found in all informal care components except out-of-home chores. Differences in functional components (amount of care, scope of assistance, and personal care) were largely accounted for by disability, whereas racial differences in the structural components (source of care, living arrangement, and sole caregiver) and in-home chores were not.
Findings suggest that Blacks are not better off than Whites in the receipt of informal care. Although Black elders receive more informal help, this difference is primarily because Blacks are more disabled. This study calls for heightened awareness of disability among low-income Blacks and the potential burden experienced by their caregivers.
在调整社会人口学特征和残疾水平后，本研究考察居家生活的黑人和白人体弱老年人非正式照护网络的结构和功能是否存在差异。
采用逻辑回归和普通最小二乘法回归分析了密歇根州基于家庭和社区的医疗补助豁免申请人的现场评估数据。样本包括936名黑人及3182名白人体弱老年人。
在控制社会人口学特征后，除户外杂务外，所有非正式照护组成部分均存在种族差异。功能组成部分（照护量、援助范围和个人照护）的差异在很大程度上由残疾所致，而结构组成部分（照护来源、居住安排和唯一照护者）和户内杂务方面的种族差异则并非如此。
研究结果表明，黑人在接受非正式照护方面并不比白人处境更好。尽管黑人老年人获得了更多的非正式帮助，但这种差异主要是因为黑人残疾程度更高。本研究呼吁提高对低收入黑人残疾情况及其照护者所承受潜在负担的认识。
