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FAMILY CAREGIVERS‘: EXPERIENCES AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH CARING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DEMENTIA
Author(s) -
Brown P.J.,
Holmes A.B.,
Mitchell R.A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
australian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 0726-4240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.1990.tb00790.x
Subject(s) - emotional support , dementia , psychological intervention , family caregivers , support group , family member , psychology , medicine , social support , gerontology , nursing , psychiatry , family medicine , psychotherapist , disease , pathology
The aim of this research was to study family cnregiv‐ers' experiences and consequences associated with caring for a family member with dementia with the purpose of identifying major difficulties, service needs and appropriate interventions. A further aim was to assess carers' support group experiences. Caregivers were identified as those attending 16 Sydney metropolitan A.D.A.R.D.S. groups. Fifty‐three carers returned the self‐report quesionnaire. Sufferers were both males and females who were cared for, in the main, by their spouses. A small group of carers had little or no personal physical and emotional support from others. Almost half of the carers are providing care 21 to 24 hours a day. Eighty‐three per cent of carers reported changes in health status related to this role. Clearly, there is a need to provide physical and emotional support for carers generally, and for those with little or no support (for example, those who do not attend a support group) in particular.