[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70754-70755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33770]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Informal Caregiver Survey (ICS) Component of the 1999 Long Term
Care Survey (LTC)
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 22,
1999.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Sarah Higgins, Bureau of the Census, FOB 3, Room
3356, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 457-3801.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Bureau of the Census plans to conduct the Informal Caregivers
Survey (ICS) as a component of the Long Term Care Survey (LTC) which
collects information on the health and functional status of the elderly
population in the United States. The purpose of the ICS is to collect
information on the persons who provide help to respondents identified
as impaired by the LTC. The Census Bureau last conducted the ICS as a
component of the 1989 LTC. It was not conducted in conjunction with the
1994 LTC. Sponsorship for the ICS component comes from Duke University
using funds received in a grant from the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services and the National Institute on Aging.
Duke University will use the data to obtain information about the
experiences of people who care for relatives and friends. The ICS will
obtain information on how older Americans and their helpers are coping
with health problems and the money problems that go with them. The
survey will seek to obtain information on how it is possible for some
of the nation's elderly to remain in their homes while others cannot,
and how caregivers are coping with this challenge.
Sample Overview
The LTC survey consists of a screener interview and, potentially, a
community or institutional interview. The community interview is given
to respondents who live in their own home while the institutional
interview is conducted for respondents who are living in nursing
facilities. During the community interview, we collect information on
the people who provide help or assistance to the LTC respondent. For
the ICS sample, we will select the caregiver, if any, who has provided
the LTC respondent with the most help during the week prior to the
interview. The sample of caregivers is restricted to unpaid helpers or
family members. We will attempt to select a caregiver for every LTC
respondent. We, however, will select only one caregiver per respondent.
Survey Process
The Census Bureau's field representatives (FRs) will attempt to
conduct the ICS immediately after completing the community interview.
If the caregiver is not present the interview will be conducted by
phone or personal visit, if necessary. All data is transmitted to the
Census Bureau where it is reviewed.
After review, the Census Bureau stores the survey data on a
microdata file and delivers the file to Duke University. Duke analyzes
the data and makes its findings known to NIA.
II. Method of Collection
The ICS will be conducted by both personal visits and telephone
interviews
[[Page 70755]]
using computer-assisted (laptop) interviewing. An advance letter will
be provided to each caregiver at the time of the interview.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0778 (expires 6/30/01).
Form Number: There are no forms. We conduct all interviewing on
laptop computers.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Individuals.
Estimated Number of ICS Respondents: We expect to ask 3,200
informal caregivers to participate in the ICS.
Estimated ICS Interview Length: We estimate that the ICS interview
will take 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The ICS will increase the
burden of the LTC by 1600 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: We do not expect respondents to incur
any cost other than that of their time to respond.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 42, United States Code, Section 285e-1,
and Title 15 United States Code, Section 1525 authorize this survey.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: December 16, 1998.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-33770 Filed 12-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P