Abstract |
The present study reports on needs assessment of caregivers of patients with dementia in the community in selected urban and rural areas of Crete and particularly aims at the assessment of their burden as a result of caregiving. The study followed a cross-sectional design. The study population consisted of a selected sample of 40 caregivers of patients with dementia drawn from the available medical records of the Association for Alzheimers disease and related disorders (Cretan Branch in Chania). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, based on two questionnaires, one for the demented patient plus Katz Index ADL (Katz et al, 1970) and one for his/her caregiver plus Burden Interview (Zarit et al, 1980). The latter scale was translated bilingually and culturally adapted into Greek after permission of the developer. The majority of caregivers were married women -mainly daughters- with a mean age of 52 years and a medium financial status, caring for their elderly mothers or spouses affected by Alzheimers disease. Most of the Alzheimers disease patients were estimated to have severe functional disorder in Katz Index ADL. The majority of the patients in our study lived with their caregivers. The latter seemed to be informed about the disease, but their great majority has received no training in coping skills for a qualitative caring of their elderly patients with dementia. Almost half of the caregivers experienced moderate to severe burden with those at higher risk being the ones with self-reported problematic financial status. The findings of the above study are in accordance with most of those in the literature. However, a low income seems to be revealed as a risk factor for caregiver burden. This study identified caregivers of patients with dementia in the community setting who are at risk of experiencing burden as a result of caregiving and pointed out the implications for caregiver training programs. Furthermore, the present study confirmed the necessity of empowerment of caregivers of patients with dementia and minimization of caregiver burden through certain national healthcare and social policy strategies. Developing supportive primary health care and social care services by means of psycho-educational interventions seem to be effective for the success of this aim.
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