Clinical Scorecard: The Role of Peer Caregivers in Supporting Older Adults

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Increase in family and friend caregivers for older adults from 18 million to 24 million.
• Older adults without family support are more likely to rely on friends for caregiving.
• Friend caregivers typically provide fewer hours of care compared to family caregivers.
• Health declines in older adults can influence friend caregiver involvement.
• Understanding friend caregiver roles can enhance care planning and delivery.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Identify older adults with limited family support who may benefit from friend caregivers.

Management

• Engage friend caregivers in care planning for older adults.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Assess the involvement and capacity of friend caregivers in providing care.

Risks

• Consider the potential for increased care intensity and complexity affecting friend caregiver willingness.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Older adults with limitations in daily activities.

Friend caregivers may be essential for older adults lacking family support.

Clinical Best Practices

• Recognize the role of friend caregivers in the care network of older adults.
• Utilize data from NHATS to inform caregiver engagement strategies.
• Evaluate the specific tasks performed by friend caregivers to optimize care delivery.

Related Resources & Content

• National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)