Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

Original Research Article

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

Coen R.F.a · O’Boyle C.A.b · Coakley D.a · Lawlor B.A.a

Author affiliations

aMercer’s Institute for Research on Ageing, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, and bDepartment of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

Keywords: DementiaCaregiversIndividual quality of life

Related Articles for ""
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2002;13:164–170
https://doi.org/10.1159/000048648

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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Research Article

Published online: March 13, 2002
Issue release date: March 2002

Number of Print Pages: 7
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 4

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

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.

© 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel



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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Research Article

Published online: March 13, 2002
Issue release date: March 2002

Number of Print Pages: 7
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 4

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

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2002, Vol.13, No. 3

March 2002

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