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

Publisher: Karger

E-ISSN: 1421-9824|13|3|164-170

ISSN: 1420-8008

Source: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Vol.13, Iss.3, 2002-03, pp. : 164-170

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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.