Siblings as Caregivers for Impaired Elders

Abstract

Most older people regard their siblings as a caregiving resource, but only small percentages actually receive sibling help. The purpose of the present study was to determine what elder characteristics are associated with receiving sibling care, and what causes its initiation and cessation over time. Using longitudinal data from the 1982-1984 National Long Term Care survey, 293 elders were identified who received sibling help in either 1982, 1984, or both, and 146 elders were sampled who received no sibling help at either time period. The elder characteristics examined were age, gender, race, education, income, marital status, number of living children, perceived health, and ADL and IADL impairments. In LOGIT analyses, those receiving sibling help at Time 1 were more likely to be younger, to be maritally disrupted or never married, to have fewer living children, and to reside in small cities. Those reporting the onset of help by Time 2 were more likely to be younger, never married, and living in rural areas, and those reporting cessation of help were more likely to be older, to have a decrease in IADL impairment, and to have changed their area of residence. The findings support the concept of a substitution hierarchy where sibling help is given when the elder has functional impairments and support from a spouse or adult children is unavailable.