Transitions in caregivers' use of paid home help: associations with stress appraisals and well-being.

This study examines the associations between transitions in paid home care and stress appraisals and psychological well-being of family caregivers of dementia relatives. The sample consisted of 264 caregivers who completed up to 3 interviews during 1 year. Longitudinal analyses (i.e., generalized estimating equations) showed that the onset of paid home care was associated with increases in feelings of worry and strain and a worsening in positive affect. Ending paid home care was strongly associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms, whereas sustained use of paid home care was related to reduced overload. Several possible mechanisms for the complex relationship of paid home care and family caregivers' stress appraisals and well-being are discussed.