Long-Term Care Needs: Burdens on Health and Well-being of Middle-Aged and Older Spousal Caregivers

Population aging is escalating globally, intensifying the demand for long-term care (LTC), primarily met by informal caregivers, notably spouses. Recently, a growing body of research, predominantly from developed countries, has explored the causal link between informal caregiving and caregivers’ health and well-being. Although findings are mixed, numerous studies show a negative association between caregiving and caregiver’s outcomes, including poorer physical and mental health, decreased life satisfaction, and increased reliance on medical interventions (e.g., psychoactive drugs and antidepressants). Notably, caring for spouses has been argued to carry even greater health risks for caregivers, due to factors like old age and potential limitations in physical and psychological resources to cope with caregiving stress. Additionally, caregiving for a spouse is an inherent obligation and responsibility prescribed by familial and societal norms.

Despite the evidence from developed countries showing potential negative effects on caregivers' well-being, there is limited research on this topic in developing nations. Therefore, we explored the impact of informal caregiving on the health and well-being of older spousal caregivers in Vietnam, a country experiencing rapid aging and early stages of LTC system development. The findings revealed that older spousal caregivers were significantly more likely to experience poorer psychological well-being, lower life satisfaction, and greater functional limitations compared to non-caregivers. Additionally, caregivers who are female, employed, highly educated, and urban faced more significant burdens than other groups.

Overall, findings suggest that the burdens of informal care extend beyond individual caregivers, potentially impacting society through increased healthcare demand and associated costs for healthcare services as a result of its adverse effects on caregivers’ health and well-being. We emphasize the potential difficulties faced by informal caregivers who are spouses of dependent elderly individuals in countries where spouses primarily care for each other, and where LTC programs have not adequately addressed this issue.

Further reading:

Le, D. D., Dang, T. N. H., & Giang, L. T. (2024). The Effects of Spousal Caregiving on Middle-Age and Older Caregivers’ Health and Well-Being: Evidence From Vietnam. Research on Aging, https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275241263622