Caregiver Burden, Health Status, and Learned Resourcefulness of Older Caregivers

Abstract

As caregivers undertake caregiving responsibilities over a long period of time, the burdens placed on them could lead to undue stress and affect their health. This correlation study examined the current situations and relationships among caregiver burden, health status, and learned resourcefulness (LR) of older caregivers who care for disabled older adults, and predicted the important factors that affect their caregiver burden. In all, 108 older caregivers were recruited from home care services of two hospitals. Structured questionnaire interviews were applied to collect data: the Caregiver Burden Scale, the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the Rosenbaum's Self-Control Schedule. Results indicated that the caregiver burden was negatively correlated with physical health, mental health, and LR. Physical and mental health were positively correlated with LR. The predictors of caregiver burden included LR, health status, economic status, and activities of daily living, which accounted for 58.60% of the total caregiver burden variance.

The long‐term direct and indirect economic burden among Parkinson's disease caregivers in the United States

“…Because of the high costs associated with PD‐related care, the increasing incidence and prevalence of PD and the aging population of the United States overall, it is important to understand the economic burden on PD caregivers . In addition, direct costs may be even higher among elderly caretakers given their own predisposition to higher need for health care and higher physical strain that could be imposed . However, older caregivers are more likely to be retired or unemployed, thus the results of this study regarding the indirect costs of PD caregiving are not likely to generalize to elderly caregivers .…”

“…34 In addition, direct costs may be even higher among elderly caretakers given their own predisposition to higher need for health care and higher physical strain that could be imposed. 35 However, older caregivers are more likely to be retired or unemployed, thus the results of this study regarding the indirect costs of PD caregiving are not likely to generalize to elderly caregivers. 36 The high prevalence of PD in the United States further underscores the magnitude of the burden of this disease.…”

Need for Resourcefulness Training for Women Caregivers of Elders with Dementia

“…Moreover, the inverse relationships between resourcefulness and depressive symptoms and stress among these caregivers suggest that low resourcefulness poses a risk to the psychological wellbeing of women dementia caregivers. Previous studies have also shown high risk of depression and stress among individuals with low resourcefulness, which are indicators of high need for resourcefulness training (Chen, Chen, & Chu, 2014; Peterson, 2013; Zauszniewski, Bekhet, & Suresky, 2009; Zauszniewski, et al, 2012; Bekhet, Zauszniewski, & Matel-Anderson, 2012). …”

Variances in family carers' quality of life based on selected relationship and caregiving indicators: A quantitative secondary analysis

“…For instance, if caregiving tasks are appraised as non‐stressful and meaning giving, levels of depression were low and life satisfaction high (Haley, LaMonde, Han, Burton, & Schonwetter, ; Li et al., ). However, compared to non‐caregivers, family carers looking after frail older persons exhibit higher burden and depression (Chen, Chen, & Chu, ; Pinquart & Sorensen, ). The intensity and duration of caregiving have also been associated with more negative outcomes, such as psychological well‐being and depression (Marcia Grant et al., ; Pinquart & Sorensen, ).…”