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- Title
Unmet Needs of Caregivers of Individuals Referred to a Dementia Care Program.
- Authors
Jennings, Lee A.; Reuben, David B.; Evertson, Leslie Chang; Serrano, Katherine S.; Ercoli, Linda; Grill, Joshua; Chodosh, Joshua; Tan, Zaldy; Wenger, Neil S.
- Abstract
Objectives To characterize caregiver strain, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy for managing dementia-related problems and the relationship between these and referring provider type. Design Cross-sectional observational cohort. Setting Urban academic medical center. Participants Caregivers of community-dwelling adults with dementia referred to a dementia care management program. Measurements Caregivers were surveyed and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire ( PHQ-9) about themselves; the Modified Caregiver Strain Index; the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, which measures patient symptom severity and related caregiver distress; and a nine-item caregiver self-efficacy scale developed for the study. Results Of 307 patient-caregiver dyads surveyed over a 1-year period, 32% of caregivers reported confidence in managing dementia-related problems, 19% knew how to access community services to help provide care, and 28% agreed that the individual's provider helped them work through dementia care problems. Thirty-eight percent reported high levels of caregiver strain, and 15% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Caregivers of individuals referred by geriatricians more often reported having a healthcare professional to help work through dementia care problems than those referred by internists, family physicians, or other specialists, but self-efficacy did not differ. Low caregiver self-efficacy was associated with higher caregiver strain, more caregiver depressive symptoms, and caring for an individual with more-severe behavioral symptoms. Conclusion Most caregivers perceived inadequate support from the individual's provider in managing dementia-related problems, reported strain, and had low confidence in managing caregiving. New models of care are needed to address the complex care needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
- Subjects
CALIFORNIA; ACADEMIC medical centers; ANALYSIS of variance; STATISTICAL correlation; DEMENTIA; MENTAL depression; FISHER exact test; LONGITUDINAL method; SCIENTIFIC observation; QUESTIONNAIRES; RESEARCH funding; SELF-efficacy; STATISTICS; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; T-test (Statistics); BURDEN of care; CROSS-sectional method; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; MANN Whitney U Test
- Publication
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2015, Vol 63, Issue 2, p282
- ISSN
0002-8614
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jgs.13251