Clinical diagnoses and disability of cognitively impaired olderpersons as predictors of stress in their carers
J.S. Cullen
Bok Engelsk 1997
| Utgitt | 1997
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| Omfang | Side 1019- 1028
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| Opplysninger | Background. Aspects of the caring relationship are often promoted asmore important than the clinical features of the care recipient inpredicting caregiver wellbeing. However, studies of consequences ofcaring for cognitively impaired people seldom include detailedmeasures of the diagnostic profile and disability of the carerecipient.Methods. Ninety community-living elderly persons with cognitiveimpairment were clinically assessed for severity on a range ofillnesses. Their disability was examined via informant reports.Informants (88% of whom were primary carers) provided information onthe behaviour and personality of the subject and reports of their own(informant) wellbeing. Using multiple regression, features of thesubjects' clinical profile (severity of diseases, disability,behavioural problems and personality change) were examined aspredictors of informant wellbeing. After controlling for subjectclinical profile, we explored the additional associations betweeninformant stress measures and other descriptors of the subject,caregiver and their relationship.Results. The subjects' clinical characteristics, in particulardisability and disturbed behaviour, were strong predictors ofcaregiver wellbeing, accounting for most of the explained variance.After control for the subjects' clinical profile, few of thesociodemographic, caregiver or relationship variables examined hadany influence on caregiver outcome measures. The exceptions werecaregiver time demands, older subject age and self-identification asprimary carer. Coresidence was not associated with caregiverdistress.Conclusion. Clinical characteristics of the care recipient aredeterminants of caregiver wellbeing, while sociodemographic,caregiver and relationship characteristics are less influential. (C)1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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