Premium
Family functioning in the caregivers of patients with dementia
Author(s) -
Heru Alison M.,
Ryan Christine E.,
Iqbal Asma
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.1119
Subject(s) - dementia , family caregivers , caregiver burden , psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , marital status , population , gerontology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , disease , environmental health , pathology , psychotherapist
Background Caregiver burden has been extensively studied in the dementia population. The marital relationship has been suggested as a mediational model through which variables influence the caregiver and contribute to the experience of burden or reward. Objectives This study examines family functioning, caregiver burden and reward and quality of life in 38 family members caring for a relative with dementia. Methods Caregivers of out‐patients with dementia completed self report questionnaires. Results 63% of caregivers were female with a mean age of 62 years. Patient mean age was 73 years. The average number of caregiving years was 3.1. Caregivers were more likely to be spouses (61%) than children (29%) or other relatives (11%). Despite the fact that caregivers reported that their relatives were moderately disabled, they perceived more reward than burden. Caregivers who reported poor family functioning had higher ratings of strain and burden. Family functioning in these caregivers was poorest in the dimensions of affective responsiveness, problem solving and communication but it was also impaired in roles and affective involvement. Conclusions Assessing a family's functioning may be an important factor in the care of the dementia patient and his/her family. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.