Longitudinal study of factors associated with informal care provision: Evidence from older Australians.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the factors associated with informal care provision by older Australians.

METHODS: Longitudinal cohorts of the Personality and Total Health Through Life project (PATH) were used to build a generalised estimating equation model.

RESULTS: Older adults who are engaged in volunteer and religious activities are 27.6% and 33.8%, respectively, more likely to provide informal care than their counterparts who are not engaged in these activities. Older adults who formerly provided care are four times more likely to have a continued caregiving role than their counterparts who did not formerly provide care. Those in marriage-type relationships are 50.9% more likely, and those with primary responsibility for household and income tasks are respectively 28.0% and 31.0% more likely, to provide care than their counterparts.

CONCLUSION: Personal values for social responsibility and role responsibility are significant predictors of informal care provision by older Australians.