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NSOC FAQ R1

What is the National Study of Caregiving?

The National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) is a new national study of people who help their older family members and friends with their daily activities.

The NSOC will look at the important role of family members and friends in providing help and care for our growing aging population.

The NSOC will conduct telephone interviews with individuals who have a family member or friend participating in The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). The NHATS is a new study of how daily life changes as people age.

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Why is this study being conducted?

The study information will be used to understand the many important ways that people help their older relatives and friends with their daily activities and how this experience affects those who help.

After the information is collected and compiled, the NSOC data will be available to researchers.

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Why should I participate?

Being part of this very important study will help us to better understand the experiences of people like you who provide necessary help with daily activities to older family members and friends.

After the interview, you will be mailed a check for $10.

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How was I selected?

You were selected because you help with household activities such as meals, shopping, or transportation, or provide personal care such as help with medications, bathing, or dressing to a family member or friend who is participating in the NHATS.

You are one of about 2,000 individuals selected for the National Study of Caregiving.

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How do I know this is a legitimate study?

The National Study of Caregiving is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. It is supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, which sponsors the National Health and Aging Trends Study. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is working with Westat to conduct the study. AARP has also expressed support for NHATS (link is external)

see letter from AARP (PDF format, opens in new window).

Participation in the study is voluntary. Those who agree to be part of the study can still refuse to answer any question asked during the study.

You can call the study's toll-free telephone number at 1-888-343-1026 to get more information.

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Is information about me kept confidential?

We will follow strict procedures and guidelines to keep the information you give private and safe. No answers that you provide will be given or told to the relative or friend that you help who is an NHATS participant.

Your answers will be used for research purposes only. Names and addresses will be kept separate from your information so that no one will know who gave what answers.

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Who will be collecting this information and how long will it take?

The NSOC is being conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with data collection by Westat, and support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Aging.

Trained telephone interviewers from Westat, a national research company based in Rockville, Maryland, will conduct the 30-minute telephone interview. You can visit the Westat website at

www.Westat.com

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What kind of information is collected?

The telephone interview will include questions about you, your health, the ways you help your relative or friend with everyday activities, and about your family.

After the interview, you will be mailed a check for $10.

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Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

If you have additional questions about this study, please call this toll free number:

1-888-343-1026

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