TIME USE OF CAREGIVERS OF IMPAIRED ELDERS BEFORE AND AFTER INSTITUTIONALIZATION

Time use was examined by means of time budgets obtained from 165 careg ivers of older persons recruited from nursing home waiting lists and s tate nursing home assessment programs. ''Yesterday interviews'' were d one at baseline (T1) and, again, an average of 5 months later when the elder had either entered a nursing home (n = 77) or was still awaitin g entry (n = 88). Caregivers who provided more help (particularly inst rumental assistance) to their elder were more likely to see that perso n placed in a nursing home at follow-up. More caregiving time was repo rted by those living with the elderly person and by nonworking and low er income caregivers; the elders being cared for by these groups were also more impaired. Less caregiving time (a total gain of 1 hour 47 mi nutes) was reported by caregivers following admission of the older per son to the nursing home. The gained time was allocated to a significan t degree to family interaction, recreation, and time outside the home.