Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Dementia-related restlessness: relationship to characteristics of persons with dementia and family caregivers
- Authors:
- REGIER Natalie G., GITLIN Laura N.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(1), 2018, pp.185-192.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Dementia-related restlessness is commonly endorsed by caregivers but not well understood. This study examines differences in characteristics (demographics, cognitive status, physical function, pain, and mood) of persons with dementia whose caregivers endorse restlessness versus those who do not. The authors also examine the relationship of restlessness to caregiver well-being including burden, upset with behaviours, mastery, and depressive symptomatology. Methods: The authors combined baseline data from three caregiver intervention studies of community-dwelling persons with dementia who exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms (n = 569) as measured by the Agitated Behaviors in Dementia Scale. The authors conducted bivariate correlations and independent t-tests by using the Agitated Behaviors in Dementia Scale restlessness item. Results: Nearly 65% (n = 367) of dementia caregivers reported restlessness. There were no significant differences between those with and without (n = 202) reported restlessness concerning functional status (physical or cognitive). However, persons with restlessness had significantly higher pain scores (p < 0.01), were more likely to be on behavioural medications (p < 0.001), and had more neuropsychiatric symptoms as compared with persons without restlessness (M = 11.11, nonrestless; M = 6.61, restless) (p < 0.001). Caregivers of persons with dementia-related restlessness reported greater burden (p < 0.001), behavioural upset (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), and lower mastery providing care (p < 0.01) compared with caregivers of persons without dementia-related restlessness. Conclusions: Restlessness is a common neuropsychiatric symptom that appears to be associated with poorer functioning in persons with dementia and greater distress in their caregivers. Further research is needed to understand the unique contributions of restlessness to care burden and quality of life of persons with dementia, as well as ways to address this distressing symptom. (Edited publisher abstract)
Intermediate care
- Authors:
- ROSE Steve, JOHNSON Kathy, (comps.)
- Publisher:
- National Health Service. Health Management Specialist Library
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 6p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Intermediate care is a core element of the Government’s programme for improving services for older people. A King’s Fund report 1 has defined intermediate care as: “Those services which will help to divert admission to an acute care setting through timely therapeutic interventions which aim to divert a physiological crisis or offer recuperative services at or near a person’s own home.” Ideally lasting no longer than a period of 6 weeks, an intermediate care episode can encompass a range of services including: rapid response, hospital at home, residential rehabilitation, supported discharge and day rehabilitation. Delivery of intermediate care has evolved and changed since its inception, for example, there is now more focus on: people with dementia and mental health problems; people who are homeless; and extra care housing - this model has an important part to play as a setting for intermediate care particularly for people with dementia. Such broadening of the intermediate care model is necessary since evidence suggests that the six week model outlined in the original guidance is insufficient in many instances, for example frail older people.
Perceptions of caregiving role by son's caring for a parent with Alzheimer's disease: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- SANDERS Sara, McFARLAND Peggy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 37(2), 2002, pp.61-76.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In this qualitative study, 18 sons were interviewed about the factors that led them to assume the role of primary caregiver for a parent with progressive memory loss, such as Alzheimer's disease, as well as the personal challenge that they experienced in this role. The analysis demonstrated that sons experience a range of emotional reactions, personal and professional conflict, as well as learn about new roles and responsibilities as they attempt to access the needed services for their parent.
Flexible care can be just a jive
- Author:
- TAYLOR Carolyn
- Journal article citation:
- Care Plan, 8(1), September 2001, pp.28-30.
- Publisher:
- Positive Publications/ Anglia Polytechnic University, Faculty of Health and Social Work
Reports on one of the winners of the health and social care awards. Looks at the use of "flexible carers" in Oxfordshire, who provided regular home based support to older people suffering from functional mental illness or dementia.
Fragile foundations: exploring the mental health of the social care workforce and the people they support
- Author:
- GATHERUM Becca
- Publisher:
- Scottish Care
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 36
- Place of publication:
- Ayr
This report looks the mental health support for older people living in care homes and accessing care at home and housing support services. It covers individuals who have lived with mental health challenges throughout their lives, as well older people who are experiencing mental health issues for the first time. It is based on focus group research with 43 care staff working across the independent social care sector in Scotland. The focus groups discussed care staff’s personal and professional experiences of mental health and the ways in which mental health issues impact upon them in their care roles and their ability to support individuals. The report examines the factors which comprise and impact upon care workers’ mental health and wellbeing. It also examines the pressures and expectations that are placed on them in carrying out their roles, often acting as a link between many individuals and services. The report shows that staff are increasingly losing their capacity and resilience to cope with these pressures, which are preventing staff from delivering compassionate care. The report provides recommendations to promote a person-centred, rights-based system of care in Scotland. These include an increased recognition of older people’s mental health issues as a human rights issue, increased recognition of the contribution of the social care workforce to supporting older people's mental health; and extending mental health and well-being support to the social care workforce. (Edited publisher abstract)
Resistiveness to care during assistance with activities of daily living in non-institutionalized persons with dementia: associations with informal caregivers’ stress and well-being
- Authors:
- FAUTH Elizabeth Braungart, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 20(9), 2016, pp.888-898.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Resistiveness to care (RTC) refers to behaviour problems that co-occur during assistance with activities of daily living (ADL). RTC are considered challenging, but are mostly studied in institutions with implications for patients and formal caregivers. RTC is associated with agitation, but agitation is considered a separate construct. Detection of RTC may be left out of common assessments of persons with dementia in studies of informal caregiving (e.g. global assessments of dementia behavioural symptoms, standard assessments of ADL function). This study examines how RTC (frequency and caregivers’ stress appraisals of RTC) is related to caregivers’ well-being. Method: 234 caregivers of people with dementia reported care receivers’ ADL impairment (eating, bathing, dressing), RTC frequency (of eating, bathing dressing), and their stress appraisals of these behaviours (RTC appraisals). Caregivers also self-reported their role overload, role captivity, and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical linear regression models included independent variables (demographics, ADL impairment, RTC frequency, RTC appraisals) with three separate dependent variables (overload, captivity, depressive symptoms). Results: Two-thirds of informal caregivers reported RTC. Care recipients’ ADL impairment was associated with caregiver outcomes, but only before RTC was entered into the models. RTC frequency significantly predicted caregivers’ overload, captivity, and depression. RTC appraisals predicted overload and captivity. Conclusion: RTC is common in persons with dementia residing at home, and RTC has more negative association with informal caregivers’ well-being than assistance with ADL. Adding RTC frequency and appraisal items to standard ADL measures may better estimate caregivers' needs and risk, and identify modifiable environmental features by assessing behavioral symptoms in context.Resistiveness to care during assistance with activities of daily living in non-institutionalised persons with dementia: associations with informal caregivers’ stress and well-being (Edited publisher abstract)
Community care statistics: social services activity, England: 2014-15
- Author:
- HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION CENTRE
- Publisher:
- Health and Social Care Information Centre
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 77
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This report covers the social care activity of Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities CASSRs in England, including people who pay entirely for their own care, for the period 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015, and for people receiving services at 31st March 2015 . Data is taken from the Short and Long Term return (SALT) which tracks customer journeys through the social care system, replacing both the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) return and the Adult Social Care Combined Activity Return (ASC-CAR). Statistics are provided for short term support, long term support and support for carers. Statistics also cover the primary reason for support: physical support, sensory support, support with memory and cognition, learning disability support, mental health support, social support and reported health conditions. (Publisher abstract)
Intentions of first-degree relatives of patients with Alzheimer's disease to seek a cognitive status examination
- Authors:
- WERNER Peerla, HEINIK Jermia
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(5), May 2004, pp.479-486.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of the present study was to examine the factors influencing intentions to seek a cognitive status evaluation among first-degree relatives of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Phone interviews were conducted with 93 first-degree relatives of persons with Alzheimer's disease, recruited from a large memory clinic. Intentions to seek a cognitive status examination were examined by asking participants to rate their willingness to seek a cognitive status examination during the next year and during the next five years. Independent variables included participants' and patients' characteristics, caregiving characteristics, knowledge about AD, worries about memory problems, and perceptions of the benefits and barriers of seeking a cognitive status examination. Overall, first-degree relatives reported only moderate intentions to seek a cognitive status examination. Their willingness to seek an examination was related to the characteristics of the first-degree relative (income and subjective memory), the characteristics of the patients (behavioral problems), the caregiving characteristics (primary caregiver), and to the perceptions of barriers associated with the examination. These findings stress the complexity of the decision-making process confronting first-degree relatives regarding their intentions to seek a cognitive status examination, and suggest the need to provide information to reach an informed decision.
Use of psychotropics among home-dwelling nondemented and demented elderly
- Authors:
- HARTIKAINEN Sirpa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(12), December 2003, pp.1135-1141.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The home-dwelling elderly (n=523) among the random sample of 700 subjects from the total population of individuals aged 75 years or more in 1998 and living in the city of Kuopio, Finland. A trained nurse interviewed the participants about their health and current use of medicines. A geriatrician performed clinical examinations and diagnosed diseases. Dementia and depression were diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria. The demented subjects used more medicines of all kinds (p<0.01), and especially more psychotropics than the nondemented (p<0.001). One in four demented subjects, compared to one in ten nondemented ones used at least two psychotropics (p<0.01). The demented subjects used antipsychotics six times more often than the nondemented ones (p<0.001). Among the nondemented subjects, one out of two antipsychotics users was suffering from depression according to DSM-IV criteria. Three out of four persons who had dementia with Lewy bodies were using psychotropics. Persons with moderate dementia were more commonly using all kinds of psychotropic preparations especially, antipsychotics three times more commonly than persons with mild or severe dementia. Psychotropics, especially antipsychotics, are commonly used in the treatment of both nondemented and demented elderly, even without proper indication. Physicians need more training about the appropriate use of psychotropics to minimize their adverse effects.
Gender, kinship and caregiver burden: the case of community-dwelling memory impaired seniors
- Authors:
- CHUMBLER Neale R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(8), August 2003, pp.722-732.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined whether there were gender and kinship (spouse, child, more distant relative) differences in caregiver burden. It further examined the constellation of gender and kinship by examining whether adult daughter caregivers experienced greater burden compared to wives, husbands, sons, and other more distant relatives. The sample consisted of 305 family caregivers of memory-impaired individuals who were age 70 years or older and resided in non-institutional settings in Arkansas. A cross-sectional design was employed using validated measures to assess both the memory-impaired elders' and family caregivers' self-reported physical and memory status. After controlling for the age and health status characteristics of the memory-impaired elder, sociodemographic and health status characteristics of the family caregiver, and the caregiver coping response (measured by the sense of coherence), multiple regression analyses found kinship, but not gender differences in caregiver burden. Adult children experienced more caregiver burden than more distant relatives. There were no significant differences in caregiver burden between adult children and spouses. Adult daughters had greater caregiver burden scores compared to more distant relatives, but had comparable scores to wives, sons, and husbands. Other significant correlates of burden included caregiver personal characteristics (age and ethnicity) and the sense of coherence. The study discusses the practice implications of adult children and adult daughters' propensity to suffer burden when caring for their memory-impaired parents living in the community. It also discusses the relevance of caregiver personal characteristics and the sense of coherence as correlates of burden.