Search results for ‘Subject term:"alzheimers disease"’ Sort:
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The social networks of Hong Kong Chinese family caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease:correlates with positive gains and burden
- Authors:
- CHENG Sheung-Tak, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 53(6), 2013, pp.998-1008.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose: To examine the social networks of family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and the degree to which network characteristics were associated with satisfaction with social support, burden, and positive gains. Design and Methods: A total of 142 Chinese caregivers responded to measures of structural support, positive exchanges, and negative exchanges using the social convoy questionnaire, as well as to measures of social support satisfaction, burden, role overload, positive gains, self-rated health, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of the care recipient. Data were analysed using multiple regression. Results: The caregivers had small networks (mean = 4.4 persons). They reported few negative exchanges with network members and higher emotional than instrumental support, while being rather satisfied with the social support obtained. Surprisingly, both spouse/sibling and adult child caregivers excluded many close kin, in particular ~40% of their children, from their networks. A larger network was associated with higher social support satisfaction and positive gains, and lower role overload. Controlling for network size and social support satisfaction, positive exchanges were associated with higher positive gains, whereas negative exchanges were associated with higher burden and overload. Caregivers who experienced more BPSD and poorer self-rated health also reported lower support satisfaction and positive gains, as well as higher burden and overload. Implications: Under the influence of collectivism, individuals may shoulder the responsibilities of caregiving for the collective well-being of the family and end up being isolated and disappointed when expectations of family support were not forthcoming, to the extent that even ties with close kin may be severed. (Publisher abstract)
Support for Alzheimer's caregivers
- Author:
- WILKS Scott E.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 19(6), November 2009, pp.722-729.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Information on the shortened, 20-item version of the Perceived Social Support Scale (S-PSSS) is scarce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the S-PSSS Family (SSfa) and Friends (SSfr) subscales. Because of their common coping method of social support, a cross-sectional sample of Alzheimer’s carers was relevant for this evaluation. Self-reported data were collected from 229 participants at two carer conferences. Factor analysis on each measure indicated a three-factor solution with all items loaded. Reliability was satisfactory. Correlational analyses and odds ratios indicated preliminary construct validity for SSfa and SSfr. The S-PSSS subscales appear to be psychometrically appropriate for potential use in appraising family and friend support among Alzheimer’s caregivers.
How older women who live alone with dementia make sense of their experiences: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
- Authors:
- FRAZER Soraya M., OYEBODE Jan R., CLEARY Adam
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(5), September 2012, pp.677-693.
- Publisher:
- Sage
More than a decade ago, the Alzheimer’s Society estimated that one third of people with dementia lived alone. Despite this, there has been little research exploring how these individuals manage their identities and cope with dementia. This study explored how women who live alone with dementia see themselves and how they cope in their day-to-day lives, in the absence of someone to reflect their identities back to them, and to help them with day-to-day living. Eight English women (75-95 years) with Alzheimer’s Disease and/or mixed vascular dementia were interviewed. Four overarching themes were identified; living with a changing sense of self; a fluctuating awareness of memory problems; seeking sanctuary versus risking danger; and being with others, connection versus disconnection. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis topics emerged about loss, embodiment, adapting, awareness, safety, relationships, exclusion and loneliness. The majority of women were widowed and many mourned the loss of their husbands and past selves as wives, professionals, mothers and independent adults. Memory loss had the most significant impact through loss of independence. However, the women were actively engaged in re-constructing their sense of self, using a variety of coping strategies. Relationships with friends, neighbours and attendance at memory clubs were important. A search for meaningful relationships was apparent, conflicting with feeling vulnerable and a consequent desire for self protection.
Are abnormal premorbid personality traits associated with Alzheimer's disease? A case-control study
- Authors:
- NICHOLAS Helen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(4), April 2010, pp.345-351.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined the association between premorbid personality traits, social networks and Alzheimer’s disease, using a case-control design, and two informant-based retrospective assessments of premorbid personality. The cases examined consisted of 217 subjects, 160 females and 57 males, diagnosed with probable late onset Alzheimer's disease, with participants from both community and nursing home settings, and a control group of 76 unaffected siblings of patients with Alzheimer’s was used as a comparison. Both participants and the control group received informant ratings of premorbid personality. Findings showed that a selection of abnormal personality traits were over represented in the Alzheimer's group and Alzheimer's disease was particularly associated with personality disorder traits such as being paranoid, schizoid or schizotypal. It was also shown that Alzheimer’s disease cases had correspondingly fewer social networks. The authors concluded that there is an association between abnormal personality traits and Alzheimer’s disease, with individuals with Alzheimer’s also appearing to have had lower levels of social interactivity.
Perceived stress and resilience in Alzheimer's disease caregivers: testing moderation and mediation models of social support
- Authors:
- WILKS Scott E., CROOM Beth
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), May 2008, pp.357-365.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The study examined whether social support functioned as a protective, resilience factor among Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers. Moderation and mediation models were used to test social support amid stress and resilience. A cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data was conducted. Measures of demographics, perceived stress, family support, friend support, overall social support, and resilience were administered to caregiver attendees (N = 229) of two AD caregiver conferences. Hierarchical regression analysis showed the compounded impact of predictors on resilience. Odds ratios generated probability of high resilience given high stress and social supports. Social support moderation and mediation were tested via distinct series of regression equations. Path analyses illustrated effects on the models for significant moderation and/or mediation. Stress negatively influenced and accounted for most variation in resilience. Social support positively influenced resilience, and caregivers with high family support had the highest probability of elevated resilience. Moderation was observed among all support factors. No social support fulfilled the complete mediation criteria. Evidence of social support as a protective, moderating factor yields implications for health care practitioners who deliver services to assist AD caregivers, particularly the promotion of identification and utilization of supportive familial and peer relations.
Support for family carers for an elderly person at home: a systematic literature review
- Authors:
- STOLTZ Peter, UDDEN Giggi, WILLMAN Ania
- Journal article citation:
- Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 18(2), June 2004, pp.111-119.
- Publisher:
- Blackwell Publishing
Sweden, like other countries, has an ageing population, and support for the carers of older people in their own homes is an important policy issue. Support may take a variety of forms, both formal and informal, and this review aims to identify and synthesise high quality evidence on family carers’ perspectives of their situations and needs. Twenty-six papers (primarily American and of carers of people with Alzheimer’s disease) are included in the review, showing that carers fear social isolation and want to network with their peers, either for social or learning purposes. They also want respite care. However, the evidence is not clear on whether they actually benefit from these forms of support, or how service provision should be attempted.
Informal caregiving networks and use of formal services by Inner-City African American elderly with dementia
- Authors:
- LI Hong, EDWARDS Dorothy, MORROW-HOWELL Nancy
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 85(1), January 2004, pp.55-62.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Presents a study of a group of 200 urban African American older people with dementia, the characteristics of their informal caregiving networks, and patterns of formal service use to examine relationships between informal caregiving networks and formal service use. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that older people were less likely to use formal services when caregivers in the informal networks were more capable of making care-related decisions. In addition, older people's functional status, annual income, and Medicaid eligibility were also significantly related to their use of formal services. Discusses practice implications of the findings.
All in the same boat
- Author:
- REDWOOD Kandy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 9(1), January 2001, p.9.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Reports on 'Alzheimer Cafe UK' which has recently been launched in Hampshire. It offers a new approach to support for people with dementia and their carers.
Perceived health, caregiver overload and perceived social support in family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s: gender differences
- Authors:
- HERNANDEZ-PADILLA Jose Manuel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 29(4), 2021, pp.1001-1009.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Perceived health in caregivers is related to caregiver burden, psychological well-being and social support. Women perceive poorer health and are more likely than men to experience caregiver overload. The objectives of this study were to analyse perceived health, perceived social support and caregiver overload in family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease, as well as to study the effect of the perceived social support as a mediating variable between perceived health and caregiver overload was also analysed, taking into account the caregivers’ gender. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The sample consisted of 255 family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease in the Almería Health District (Spain). This study was conducted from January to December 2015. The caregivers’ mean age was 55.35 years (SD = 12.35), with 85.5% (n = 218) being women and 14.5% (n = 37) being men. The following questionnaires were administered: Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire-28; the Caregiver Strain Index, measuring caregiver overload; and the Duke-UNC-11 functional social support questionnaire. Poor perceived health, high caregiver overload and high perceived social support were found. Differences in perceived health and perceived social support were significantly higher in women than in men. In women, perceived social support was a mediating variable between perceived health and family caregiver overload. This mediation was not observed in men. This study suggests that perceived social support influences the emotional well-being and the caregiver overload of family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's. However, its effect differs according to gender. It would, therefore, be necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the variables determining these differences in family caregivers. (Edited publisher abstract)
Friendsourcing peer support for alzheimer’s caregivers using Facebook social media
- Authors:
- WILKERSON David A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Technology in Human Services, 36(2-3), 2018, pp.105-124.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This research piloted an e-health intervention that used social media to friendsource peer support for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) caregivers. Friendsourcing is a variant of crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing recruits online participants who share a characteristic that makes their volunteerism meaningful when they join to achieve an outcome. This article introduces the authors' friendsourcing intervention research and examines the effects on the psychological well-being of AD caregivers. After a 6-week intervention, caregivers were found to have significantly decreased burden (Z = −2.01, p < .05) and perceived stress (Z = −2.95, p < .01). Emotional and informational support scores were significantly increased (Z = −2.32, p < .05). Qualitative data analysis of the intervention identified positive effects in new caregiving knowledge acquisition and application and reduced stress in the acceptance of the caregiving role. Joining social networks in support groups through friendsourcing was feasible for AD caregivers who were familiar with social media, and can provide another means of guiding the development of their personal support networks. (Edited publisher abstract)