Evaluating the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) for Determininig Eligibility for Respite Services

Community resources available to caregivers of adults who are suffering from chronic long-term illnesses are limited. Providing needed intervention through respite services to caregivers can benefit the recipients by easing their caregiving burden. Such assistance can improve the quality of life as well as the physical health of those whom the program serves. Respite services can delay the onset of disease, the possibility of being institutionalized, or even premature death. Respite services also benefit the community by providing services to the public while saving a significant amount of tax dollars in preventative care. Because the impact of respite services is so significant, the process by which eligibility for respite services is determined merits critical review. Determining eligibility for respite services in the most efficient manner should ensure that individuals receiving respite benefits will be those who truly have the greatest need for services. Respite resources and services need to be dispersed equitably to caregivers. As part of this project, twenty (20) caregivers were interviewed in their homes. This project reports their responses and discusses the results to determine the appropriateness of the Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory (Mark Novak, PHD, & Guest) in determining caregiver burden. The caregivers interviewed were asked to report their feelings and ideas regarding the Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and the eligibility process for respite services. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of the CBI, this paper identifies intake and screening limitations of the current State of Utah Caregiver Respite Care Program, offers solutions to improve the current system to more accurately determine caregiver burden, and suggests topics that merit future research.