Background: Caregiving and caregiving intensity is associated with increased depressive symptoms among caregivers. Nonetheless, more research is needed to examine the relationship between caregiving intensity and depressive symptoms among care recipients.

Methods: Using data from the seventh wave of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE)(n=550), we assessed the association between depressive symptoms in care recipients and the source of care for ADL disability in Older Mexican Americans age 75+. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Caregivers were asked to name all sources of ADL care for care recipients, including the caregiver, the care recipient, another family, and other non-family. We used regression models controlling for the care recipient and caregiver characteristics, as well as the care recipient’s health.

Results: The average CESD score of care recipients was 11.12. Care recipients' mean age was 87 years old, 68% were women, and 52% were born in the U.S. Caregivers reported sources of care included the care recipient (73%), the caregiver (32%), another family (13%) and other non-family(21%). Care recipients who provided care for themselves had significantly fewer depressive symptoms (-3.16), while those who reported non-family as sources of care had significantly higher depressive symptoms (3.33), even when controlling for the level of disability. Depressive symptoms were higher for females than males and among those that had fewer than seven years of education.

Conclusion: The source and amount of attention the care recipients receive are crucial in determining the risk of developing depressive symptoms.