Swallowing Impairments Increase Emotional Burden in Spousal Caregivers of Older Adults.

The aim of this study was to determine the type and extent of caregiver burden uniquely experienced by spousal caregivers of older adults with dysphagia. Using the Round 1 surveys from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and the National Study of Caregiving, we analyzed data on 422 community-dwelling older adults and their spousal caregivers. Approximately 17% of care recipients reported swallowing difficulties. Logistic regression analysis revealed that caregivers of spouses with dysphagia were significantly more likely to experience emotional burden, = .038; odds ratio (OR) = 2.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.04, 4.09]. Of those spouses caring for partners with dysphagia who reported emotional burden, nearly 70% rated the burden moderate to severe. Dysphagia in community-dwelling older adults is associated with increased emotional burden among spousal caregivers. Given the intricate relationship between the health and well-being of both members of the caregiving dyad, these findings support the need for interventions that prioritize dyadic health.