The nature of informal caregiving for medically ill older people with and without depression.

Objective: To describe patient and caregiver perceptions of the nature of informal caregiving in a sample of older medical inpatients with and without depression.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-four patient-caregiver pairs were recruited from a larger prospective observational study of three groups of medical inpatients aged 65 and over, with major, minor, and no depression, respectively, and with at most mild cognitive impairment. Interviews were conducted at the time of hospital admission to assess characteristics of patients (disability, comorbidity, perceptions of support) and caregivers (relationship, residence, types of assistance and time spent caregiving). Time spent on the physical tasks of caregiving (assistance with activities of daily living, physical care, transport) was estimated by all caregivers. Time spent on emotional or other support was estimated only for non-coresident caregivers

Results: In multivariable analyses, neither major nor minor depression was associated with time spent on physical support; major depression was associated with significantly increased time spent by non-coresident caregivers on emotional or other support; minor depression was associated with perceived inadequacy of support.

Conclusions: Major depression is independently associated with greater time spent by non-coresident caregivers on emotional or other support; minor depression is associated with perceived inadequacy of support.