PERCEPTIONS OF RESPITE SERVICES AS PREDICTORS OF UTILIZATION

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influenc e the extent to which family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients use pu blicly subsidized respite programs. A model linking caregivers' attitu des concerning the convenience, quality of care, and perceived usefuln ess of a particular respite program to levels of respite use is hypoth esized and tested. One hundred fourteen caregivers throughout Michigan who were eligible for respite services under the auspices of the Mich igan Model Respite Program and caring for a noninstitutionalized elder with Alzheimer's disease participated in the study. Controlling for f unctional limitations of the elder, health of the caregiver, use of ot her support services, perceptions concerning the usefulness of respite , and the convenience of respite use were found to have significant di rect effects on the level of actual respite use. Perceptions of progra m convenience affected service use indirectly by influencing caregiver s' perceptions of program usefulness.