Systems of Social Support in Families Who Care for Dependent African American Elders

Purpose: This study examined connections (linking, compensatory, or none) between three systems of social support (informal, church, and formal). Predictors of each system were also examined. Design and Methods: A community sample of 187 caregivers who provided care to older African American participants in the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly was used. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships between systems of social support as well as to determine predictors of each social support system. Results: Findings provide evidence for linking connections between systems of support: Informal and formal supports were linked, and church support and formal support were linked. The relationship of need as positively related to social support was limited to the care recipient's number of instrumental activities of daily living limitations being associated with formal support. Level of education was also associated with use of formal support. Implications: Cohesive family networks and network size are important factors that help determine what support caregivers receive. African American caregivers may be at risk for negative health outcomes because they are less likely to use formal support as care recipients' activities of daily living limitations increase.