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P4‐139: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Distress Comparison Between Caregivers of Alzheimer Disease and Frontolobar Degeneration Patients
Author(s) -
Ramirez Cuapio Francisco Leonardo,
Martinez-Ruiz Adrian,
Sosa-Ortiz Ana Luisa
Publication year - 2016
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.2016.06.2230
Subject(s) - distress , dementia , frontotemporal lobar degeneration , medicine , disease , neurology , alzheimer's disease , frontotemporal dementia , psychiatry , clinical psychology
Background African Americans are twice more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than other ethnic groups; therefore, African American, family caregivers will face a greater burden in Alzheimer’s care management, health access and health outcomes. Research has also shown that African American spouses (as caregivers) and female caregivers are at higher risk of experiencing task difficulty, depressive symptoms and negative life changes as a result of providing care. This data emphasizes the need to understand the experiences, needs and perceptions of African American informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. The goal of this descriptive study was to assess the needs of caregivers, their perceived burdens and the role that gender may play in caregiving in a community dwelling cohort of African American caregivers. Methods We conducted a needs assessment with a convenience sample of more than 400 African American caregivers that attended an annual caregivers education conference sponsored by a community outreach center in the Southeast region of the United States. We designed and administered a 27 question survey that assessed caregivers’ workload, self-reported health, their need for resources, as well as self-reported troublesome behaviors. Results We received 167 completed surveys 138 of which were from informal or family caregivers. Our findings indicate that nearly one-half of caregivers reported working full-time while simultaneously providing 10 to more than 40 hours of care per week for a loved one. Male caregivers reported needing more help with finances and finding either adult day care, nursing homes or nurse aides while female caregivers reported needing resources on how to have family discussions, how to find adult day care and finances. Both females and males reported that combativeness was the most problematic behavior exhibited by their loved one. More than 70% reported feeling well most days and expressed interest in receiving more caregiver training.