Association between informal caregivers’ assistance in management of care-recipients’ medications and their use of training services-a national retrospective study

Approximately 36% of family caregivers help older adults manage medications. Caregivers have an extensive unmet need for information and training, however, the relationship between caregivers’ assistance in managing care-recipients’ medications and their use of training services is unclear. The objectives of this study are to examine the association between informal caregivers’ assistance in managing care-recipients’ medications and their a) receipt and b) initiation to seek caregiving-related training. A retrospective non-experimental study was conducted utilizing data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), and its supplement, the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC). NHATS is comprised of a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries (≥65 years) while NSOC includes a sample of their informal caregivers. Caregiver assistance in managing care-recipients’ medications was assessed using an item asking caregivers if they help keep track of care-recipients’ medications. Use of training services was assessed using two items asking if caregivers have received or looked for training to help provide care. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed. Fifty four percent of caregivers (N=1367) helped keep track of care-recipients’ medications. Approximately 7% indicated they received training and 10.2% reported looking for training. After adjusting for caregivers’ education and gender and care-recipients’ gender, race, and number of chronic conditions, the adjusted odds of receiving training were 2.58 (95% CI: 1.42, 4.69) fold higher for caregivers who kept track of medications. The adjusted odds of seeking training were 2.29 (95% CI: 1.36, 3.86) fold higher for caregivers who kept track. Results suggest that relatively few caregivers receive or seek training, however, caregivers who manage medications are more likely to have training for their care. Future research should examine the nature of training and how it impacts caregivers’ ability to manage medications.