Respite for Dementia Caregivers: The Effects of Adult Day Service Use on Caregiving Hours and Care Demands

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine whether adult day service use was related to decreases in primary caregiving hours (i.e., the time caregivers spent on activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living and behavior problems for care recipients) and care recipient function for these domains. Three-month longitudinal data from the Adult Day Care Collaborative Study (N = 400) were used. Adult day service users reported greater decreases in hours spent on behavior problems when compared to nonusers, even after controlling for baseline differences between the two groups. In addition, adult day service users reported decreased frequency of behavior problems in their relatives who attended adult day programs. The findings suggest that adult day services, if used over time, are effective in restructuring caregiving time and may offer potential benefits not only to family caregivers but to community-residing older adults who have dementia as well.

The influence of day care centres for people with dementia on family caregivers: an integrative review of the literature

“…This is also evident in research from the 1970s and 1980s up to the present day, which confirms that day care is far from a homogeneous service (Gaugler et al, 2003a;MetLife, 2010). It will therefore be useful to examine different definitions of day care.…”

“…After World War II, these day care centres were used to treat war veterans with war-related traumas. In Montreal, day care was first offered in the 1940s, but little is known about the form and content of the care (Gaugler et al, 2003a;Hunter, 1992;Weissert, 1976;Weissert et al, 1989). The first known day care for the elderly in the USA was at Hudson Day Center in New York in 1954.…”

“…In Germany, day care is described as a social responsibility , while in the USA, many day care centres are affiliated with and financed through a state-wide network Gaugler et al, 2003aGaugler et al, , 2003b. Day care can also be affiliated with universities, as in the Netherlands and Italy (Dröes, Breebaart, Meiland, Van Tilburg, & Mellenbergh, 2004a;.…”

“…1) DCCs facilitate separation time, thereby giving family caregivers time that can be used for undisturbed work [8,24,25], rest, or other pursuits [6,9,25]. 2) DCCs seem to reduce behavioural problems and the need for assistance with ADL, but research on these effects is largely undocumented and tentative [6,26,27]. 3) DCCs may reduce care demands, stress, and depression as well as increase wellbeing [9,[28][29][30], but the results from previous research conflicts with this [5,27].…”

Is socially integrated community day care for people with dementia associated with higher user satisfaction and a higher job satisfaction of staff compared to nursing home-based day care?

“…Several studies found a positive impact of day care on neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g. agitation) and wellbeing of people with dementia (Gaugler et al, 2003;Mossello et al, 2008;Zank & Schacke, 2002). Also, informal carers benefit from day care by receiving respite and support.…”