Long-Term Effects of Bereavement and Caregiver Intervention on Dementia Caregiver Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the joint effects of bereavement and caregiver intervention on caregiver depressive symptoms Design and Methods Alzheimer’s caregivers from a randomized trial of an enhanced caregiver support intervention versus usual care who had experienced the death of their spouse (n = 254) were repeatedly assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale prior to and following bereavement. Random effects regression growth curve analyses examined the effects of treatment group and bereavement while controlling for other variables Results The death of the care recipient led to reductions in depressive symptoms for both caregiving groups. Enhanced support intervention led to lower depressive symptoms compared with controls both before and after bereavement. Post-bereavement group differences were stronger for caregivers of spouses who did not previously experience a nursing home placement. These caregivers maintained these differences for more than 1 year after bereavement. Caregivers who received the enhanced support intervention were more likely to show long-term patterns of fewer depressive symptoms before and after bereavement, suggesting resilience, whereas control caregivers were more likely to show chronic depressive symptoms before and after the death of their spouse. Implications Caregiver intervention has the potential to alter the long-term course of the caregiving career. Such clinical strategies may also protect caregivers against chronic depressive symptoms that would otherwise persist long after caregiving ends.

Factors associated with the resilience of family caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review

“…Haley et al 22 spent two years monitoring a randomized sample of 254 caregivers (mean age of 71.1 years) of deceased individuals who had suffered from dementia. The aim of the study was to analyze the joint effects of mourning and care intervention on the depressive symptoms of caregivers.…”

“…The authors suggested that caregivers who possess knowledge, abilities and support (interventions) may find valuable resources in the detachment of assistance, as well as facing challenges such as dealing with the death of a loved one. 22 It is possible to infer that resilience and the support received (social, family or psychological, when required) serve as a protection factor, enabling caregivers to face the adversities of life more effectively. Lavrestsky et al conducted a 12-month experimental study with 40 caregivers (aged 43 to 91 years) of people with AD.…”

Benefits of psychodynamic group therapy on depression, burden and quality of life of family caregivers to Alzheimer’s disease patients

“…There is an estimate of 46% of increase in the demand for healthcare services for AD patient caregivers 10 . In addition, up to 60% of family caregivers to AD patients may develop physical and/or psychological symptoms, including hypertension, digestive problems, sleep disorders, respiratory diseases, immunologic system deficiency, depression, anxiety and insomnia 7,11 .…”

Predictors of Grief in Bereaved Family Caregivers of Person's With Alzheimer's Disease: A Prospective Study

“…While depression in caregivers has been well documented (Crespo, Lopez, & Zarit, 2005;Mittleman, Roth, Coon, & Haley, 2004;Haley et al, 2008;Pinquart & Sorensen, 2003), the topic of caregiver grief has only recently been explored (Meuser & Marwit, 2001;Ott, Sanders, & Kelber, 2007;Givens et al, 2011). Currently, little is known about which factors prior to the death predict higher levels of grief in bereaved adult child and spouse caregivers of individuals with dementia.…”