Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 1 of 1
Predictors of institutionalised of cognitively-impaired elderly cared for their relatives
- Authors:
- SPRUYTTE Nele, AUDENHOVE Chantal Van, LAMMERTYN Frans
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(12), December 2001, pp.1119-1128.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aims to identify risk factors for nursing home placement of cognitively-impaired elderly, with special attention to the role of psychosocial factors such as the caregiver's preference for institutionalization and the quality of the dyadic relationship. Partners, children and children-in-law caring for a relative suffering from dementia were interviewed at home. The hypothesis that a poor quality of the relationship, besides other determinants, will be predictive of institutionalisation received partial support. No relationship is found between the premorbid relationship quality and institutionalisation. However, a good current relationship between the caregiver and the patient reduced the risk of nursing home placement. Institutionalisation was predicted by the caregiver's preference for institutionalisation, the functional level of the patient, the quality of the current relationship and the performance of accommodation changes at home. Research and interventions directed as delaying or preventing institutionalisation should pay more attention to the role of psychosocial aspects in the process of nursing home placement. Specifically the relationship quality in terms of criticism or warmth might be a critical factor in the continuation of home care.