Individual Quality of Life Factors Distinguishing Low-Burden and High-Burden Caregivers of Dementia Patients

Abstract

Dementia patient (n = 72) and caregiver characteristics and individual quality of life (IQoL) factors distinguishing low- and high-burden caregivers were evaluated. Measures included patient cognitive, functional and behavioural status, and caregiver burden, well-being, social support appraisal and IQoL. The caregivers were divided by median split into low- and high-burden groups. In the high-burden group daughters were over-represented, psychological morbidity was higher, QoL was lower, the patients were more behaviourally disturbed, and there was a trend towards more negative appraisal of informal social support. Of the many QoL factors elicited from caregivers, only ‘time for self’ and ‘finances’ differed significantly between the groups. A need for more time away from the patient is a major QoL concern for highly burdened caregivers, and a perceived lack of adequate informal support and/or financial constraints are contributory factors.

Differential features of burden between spouse and adult-child caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease: An exploratory comparative design

“…These findings are consistent with previous reports (Coen et al, 2002;Andrén and Elmståhl, 2007;Molyneux et al, 2008).…”

“…In line with that reported by numerous authors the analysis of specific factors revealed the important contribution to caregiver burden of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of patients (Fuh et al, 2001;Coen et al, 2002;Garre-Olmo et al, 2000), as well as that of functional disability (Garre-Olmo et al, 2002). These factors were distributed generally across both groups of caregivers, although the regression analysis indicated that they had a greater effect on spouses, probably due to their living in closer contact with the patient.…”

“…Some studies report that adult children show the highest levels of burden (Coen et al, 2002;Andrén and Elmståhl, 2007;Molyneux et al, 2008), whereas other state that the greatest burden is that experienced by spouse caregivers (Montgomery and Kosloski, 1994;Rinaldi et al, 2005;Serrano-Aguilar et al, 2006). Conversely, some authors have found no significant differences overall (Ferrario et al, 2003;Ankri et al, 2005;Turró-Garriga et al, 2008).…”

START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) study: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a manual-based coping strategy programme in promoting the mental health of carers of people with dementia

“…Focusing on hours of caregiving, the authors found a significant difference over the 6-month study period, with carers in the intervention group having more time to dedicate to activities unrelated to caregiving, which has potentially positive impacts on emotional well-being and QoL. 22,23 Therefore, more evidence is needed of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions for supporting caregivers.…”

The SEIQoL and functional status: how do they relate?

“…In health related studies, it has been used in people suffering from peptic ulcer disease and irritable bowel disease (18), osteoarthritis (19), AIDS (20), cancer (21,22), cystic fibrosis (23), stroke (24), multiple sclerosis (17), mental illness (25), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (26,27), people with leukaemia and lymphoma (28), people with End Stage Renal Failure (29), carers of people with dementia (30), and young people with diabetes (31) to name a few.…”