USE OF PHYSICIAN SERVICES AMONG FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF ELDERLY PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA

It is well known that there is an excess of physical and psychological health problems among family caregivers of elderly persons with Alzhe imer's disease and other dementias. The objective of this study was to determine whether the higher level oi morbidity translates into a hig her level of medical care utilization. Data from a previously complete d longitudinal study of caregivers for elderly persons with dementia w ere merged with data on physician visits obtained from the computerize d records of the Quebec Health Insurance Board. Utilization of physici an care (adjusted for age, sex, number of chronic diseases, and depres sion) was no higher for family caregivers of elderly patients with Alz heimer's disease and other dementias than for comparable family member s of older persons without dementia. The annual cost of physician care was almost identical among caregivers and noncaregivers. However, the pattern of utilization for the two groups was somewhat different: the re was a significantly higher frequency of physician utilization among caregivers for services billed by psychiatrists and internal medicine specialists. In multivariate analysis, physician utilization was sign ificantly associated with having more than one chronic condition and w ith increased age. Future studies should focus on determining whether caregivers neglect their own health care needs as a result of the exig encies of the caregiving role. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.