1. Caregiving and Caregivers in Glace Bay Deborah Kiceniuk, PhD Andrew Harvey, PhD Adrian MacKenzie, BSc

2. Unpaid Caregiving Unpaid work households do by and for themselves, including domestic chores, childcare, and shopping

3. Objectives  1. To examine the relationship between caregiving and health behaviours and practices in relation to demographic variables  2. To examine similarities and differences in health behaviours and practices between caregivers in two Nova Scotian communities in relation to demographic variables

4. Hypotheses – what we expected!  Caregivers are more likely to be female, married, middle-aged, unemployed, less education, lower income  Caregivers poorer emotional health status, and similar physical health status  Caregivers and non-caregivers will have similar health utilization and health behaviour patterns

5. Variables – What we looked at!  Demographics »gender, marital status, education, age, income, and occupational status  Health Status »perceived physical and emotional health »objective measures – limited activity and medication use

6. Variables – cont’d Health Care Utilization » frequency of visits to physicians, other health care providers, mental health professionals, OP/Emerg. Health Behaviours » frequency of pap smears & mammograms, » smoking, exercise within various time frames

7. Variables – cont’d  Social Support » frequency of contacting relatives or neighbours » frequency in attending religious events » ability to partake volunteer activities

8. Glace Bay - respondents 87% response rate 1694 respondents Slightly >60% Aged 45> 40% Household inc. $35,000> Slightly >50% Grade 12 29.5% University or Community C. 60% Married or Living CL

9. Glace Bay - Caregivers 12.6% of sample 206 respondents 67.5% female (C) 55.8% female (N) 69% - =>45 (C) 58.5% - =>45 (N) 69.5% - M/CL (C) 58.8% - M/CL (N) Similar Income & education levels

10. Caregiver characteristics Caregivers  12.6% of sample (206)  67.5% female (C)  69% - =>45 (C)  69.5% - M/CL (C)  Similar income & education levels Non-Caregivers  55.8% female  58.5% - =>45 (N)  58.8% - M/CL (N)

11. Demographics

12. Age

13. Main Activity

14. Education Level

15. Household Income

16. Health Status

17. Perceived Health Status

18. Limited Activity Levels

19. Pain reliever/anti-inflammatory

20. Anti-depressants

21. Blood Pressure Medication

22. Stomach Remedies

23. Emotional Health and Stress

24. Life Stress

25. Not Accomplished What You Want

26. Enough Time with Family/Friends

27. Trying to Accomplish More

28. Health Care Utilization

29. Physician Contacts

30. Visits to ER/OP

31. Health Practices and Behaviours

32. Mammograms

33. Pap Tests

34. Exercise Patterns

35. Smoking

36. Social Support

37. Contact with Family

38. Contact with Neighbours

39. Attendance at Religious Events

40. Volunteerism