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P2‐391: Providing peer‐based social support for caregivers of spouses with dementia using telephone conference calls
Author(s) -
McHugh Joanna,
Wherton Joseph,
Lawlor Brian
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.05.1264
Subject(s) - loneliness , spouse , dementia , peer support , psychosocial , social support , anxiety , phone , psychology , depression (economics) , telephone call , medicine , gerontology , clinical psychology , disease , psychiatry , psychotherapist , computer science , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics
tele-homecare system, which consisted of: home units, personal pendants, fall detectors, bed occupancy sensors to provide functions of communication, mental support, consultation, health education, and monitoring of patient safety. Caregivers had access to 24 hour call center and a specialist simply by pressing a button set at home. We had two evaluations in place: a baseline assessment then followed up by a six month assessment. Every caregiver was assessed by Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) for burden, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for depression, and WHO Quality of life -BREF scale (WHOQOL)for quality of life at 6 months interval. Results: The CBI total score (T1⁄4 0.38, P1⁄4 0.704) found no significance deterioration andWHOQOL score (T1⁄4 -1.00 , P1⁄4 0.50) had mild improvement, but not statistically significant at 6 month interval. The GDS score (T1⁄4 2.73, P< 0.05) and Caregivers’ depression significantly improved after 6 months of tele-homecare service.Conclusions:A care-coordination assisted by tele-homecare system seems to stabilize burden, improve quality of life, and decrease the depression of caregivers of dementia patients.