[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
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