Paid and unpaid support received by co-resident informal caregivers attending to community-dwelling older adults in Spain

In this study from Spain, support received from outside the household by informal caregivers of people older than 64 years
is analysed. The Spanish Time Use Survey (2002–2003) is used to examine: (1) the proportion of co-resident informal caregivers
receiving paid and unpaid support by persons from outside the home; (2) the main factors associated with receipt of external
paid and unpaid support; and, (3) factors linked to the amount of support received in terms of time. The study sample included
404 caregivers who cohabited with the person receiving care. We used a modified Andersen Behavioural Model as the analytic
framework. Significant differences are observed in receipt of support according to predisposing, enabling and need factors.
Overall, support (paid and unpaid) is significantly lower among households with women caregivers. In comparison with the least
educated caregivers, higher levels of paid support are observed among those with secondary school or higher education, even
when income, household size and receiver’s age are included in the model. After controlling for care receivers’ disability
level and age, unpaid support is significantly higher among employed caregivers, spouses and caregivers living in medium-sized
cities, versus unemployed caregivers, other relatives and caregivers living in large cities, respectively. These data highlight
the inequalities of resources in terms of caregiver gender, socio-economic status and population size. The findings underscore
the need to extend analysis not only to primary caregivers, but to caregiving networks and other types of caregiver support
as well.