Our Research
The Utah Caregiving Population Science Research Group (Utah C-PoPS) is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing the science of caregiving and serious illness through population-based research. Our work explores how family structure, caregiving roles, health systems, and social determinants influence health and healthcare outcomes for individuals facing serious illness—particularly older adults—and their families.
We harness the power of the Utah Population Database (UPDB), one of the world’s most comprehensive population data resources, which includes statewide vital records, medical claims, electronic health records, cancer registry data, and multi-generational family linkages. This unique infrastructure allows us to study caregiving and health trajectories at a population level, across time, and within diverse care settings.
Key Areas of Research
- Family Structure and Support Networks:
We examine how the availability, type, and proximity of family members shape healthcare decisions, service use, and care experiences—particularly among individuals with complex needs, such as those with dementia or nearing the end of life. Our research highlights the health system's growing reliance on unpaid family caregivers and the inequities this creates for individuals without family support. - End-of-Life and Serious Illness Care:
Utah C-PoPS investigates patterns of care in the final months of life, including hospitalizations, hospice use, place of death, and nursing home transitions. We explore how family presence (or absence), race/ethnicity, geography, and diagnosis (e.g., dementia) affect the intensity and quality of care people receive as they approach death. - Caregiver Health and Outcomes:
We study the short- and long-term impacts of caregiving on family members, including psychological stress, mental health treatment patterns (e.g., antidepressant and anxiolytic prescribing), and even post-bereavement mortality risk. These findings underscore caregiving as a public health issue with broad implications for family well-being. - Health Equity and Disparities:
Our work draws attention to disparities in care and outcomes based on race, ethnicity, rurality, and socioeconomic status. We aim to inform policies that promote more equitable access to support services and high-quality care across diverse communities. - Systems-Level Impact of Caregiving:
We explore how caregiver involvement influences healthcare utilization, cost, and outcomes—such as avoidable hospitalizations, transitions between care settings, and adherence to patient preferences. This work informs healthcare system and policy reforms to better integrate and support caregivers.
Goals and Impact
Our team’s findings have been published in leading journals including Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Social Science & Medicine, Journal of Palliative Medicine, Death Studies, and Alzheimer’s & Dementia. We aim to bridge the gap between research and practice by producing actionable evidence for policymakers, health systems, and communities.
Ultimately, Utah C-PoPS is committed to improving the lives of both patients and caregivers through research that supports more person- and family-centered care, prepares health systems to meet the needs of an aging population, and ensures all individuals—regardless of their family circumstances—receive high-quality, compassionate care across the life course.
