Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 17
The mediating role of sense of coherence on mental health outcomes in carers of older dependent relatives: a longitudinal study
- Authors:
- LOPEZ-MARTINEZ Catalina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(5), 2021, pp.722-730.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Sense of coherence (SOC) is an important protective factor for carer well‐being but research to date remains cross‐sectional, focusing primarily on the direct effects of SOC on carers' mental health. The study's aim was to investigate the mediating role of SOC in the longitudinal relationship between caregiver strain and carers' psychological health, and its stability over time. Methods: Prospective longitudinal study conducted in Jaén (Spain) with a probabilistic sample of 132 carers of older people, with data collected at baseline and at 1‐year follow‐up. We measured SOC, caregiver strain, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and several care‐recipient characteristics and intensity of care provided. We used multiple linear regression modelling and the Sobel test to analyse mediation effects. Results: SOC was significantly negatively longitudinally associated with both anxiety (β = −0.38, p = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.28, p = 0.023), after controlling for several confounders. SOC mediated both the relationship between caregiver strain and anxiety, and caregiver strain and depressive symptoms (Sobel test: p < 0.001 for anxiety and p < 0.001 for depressive symptoms). Differences between baseline and 1‐year follow‐up SOC scores were not statistically significant (p = 0.617). Conclusions: SOC appears to buffer the impact of caregiver strain on symptoms of depression and anxiety in informal carers of older people. Our data showed that SOC is an important psychological resource for carers that remained relatively stable under non‐experimental conditions over a period of 1 year in this sample. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening SOC may protect carer psychological well‐being. (Edited publisher abstract)
Prediction of burden in family caregivers of patients with dementia: A perspective of optimism based on generalized expectancies of control
- Authors:
- CONTADOR Israel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(6), August 2012, pp.675-682.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study explored the predictors of burden for informal caregivers of patients with dementia. It assessed the moderating role of generalised expectancies of control (GEC) between caregiver stress and burden. One hundred and thirty patients with dementia along with their main family caregivers were assessed from different rural areas of the province of Salamanca, Spain. Patients with dementia were assessed on dementia stage, cognitive-functional impairment and behavioural symptoms. Clinical variables of patients and GEC were considered as potential predictors of burden in the hierarchical regression analysis. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) Scale was used as an outcome measure. Findings indicated that the clinical variables could not predict burden in caregivers significantly. Family caregivers with high expectancies of self-efficacy and contingency were less vulnerable to stress. Implications for future research are discussed.
Family caregivers’ perceptions of maltreatment of older adults with dementia: findings from the northwest of Spain
- Authors:
- RIVERA-NAVARRO Jesus, CONTADOR Israel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 31(1), 2019, pp.77-95.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder that implies a risk factor of maltreatment by family caregivers. In this study, the authors analyzed both informal caregiver’s perceptions of maltreatment and aspects of the caregiver and caregiving behaviour that may be associated with maltreatment. They conducted five focus groups (FGs) in three Spanish cities: Segovia, Soria and León. The themes that were identified were related to two levels of maltreatment: (a) relational and (b) institutional. At the relational level, the authors observed the justification of maltreatment of Older Adults with Dementia (OAswD) by family caregivers during the occurrence of behavioural symptoms. At the institutional level, the authors noted that lack of support from the government was considered a type of maltreatment. These themes suggest that policy issues related to healthcare should be considered. (Edited publisher abstract)
The experience of family care-givers and migrant paid care-givers' relief of burden: a contrasted qualitative analysis
- Authors:
- DE LA CUESTA-BENJUMEA Carmen, ROE Brenda
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 34(7), 2014, pp.1219-1242.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Older people are increasingly being cared for in the community across Europe. Dependent care in Spain largely remains a private issue involving family carers and migrant women from developing countries. Qualitative research on respite care has contributed to our understanding of respite as a subjective experience. Nonetheless, how care-givers relieve the burden of care is still not fully understood. Migrant care-givers are present in family life but their need for rest remains unseen. The aim of the study presented in this paper was to contrast family care-givers and migrant care-givers' strategies for relief from their caring role. Care-givers rest by thinking, doing and being but in a different manner from that of care-giving, that is: when they are a different person. To leave the life of care-giving is the general strategy that family care-givers use to rest from their care-giving selves while turning to one's own world describes the way migrant care-givers seek to relieve the burden of care. The comparative analysis shows that both strategies have in common the necessity to disconnect from the care-giving identity and that both migrant and family care-givers employ strategies that are false exits to a care-giving identity: they apparently relieve the burden of care. Respite goes beyond places, times and activities; as family care itself, it requires identity. (Publisher abstract)
Willingness-to-pay for reductions in care need: estimating the value of informal care in Alzheimer's disease
- Authors:
- GUSTAVSSON Anders, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(6), June 2010, pp.622-632.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study attempted to estimate the value of informal care in Alzheimer's disease patients using contingent valuation. Five hundred and seventeen primary carers in four countries (UK, Spain, Sweden, and US) were administered a questionnaire. Carers estimated the amount they were willing to pay for a reduction in care burden by 1 hour per day, or a total elimination of care needs. Further, the relationship between carer willingness to pay and carer and patient characteristics including disease severity and income was examined. Findings showed that carers spend on average 7 to 9 hours per day on giving care to their patient, of which 4 to 5 hour constituted basic and instrumental activities of daily living. For a 1 hour reduction in care per day, carers said that they were willing to pay £105, £121, £59, and £144 per month in the UK, Spain, Sweden, and US respectively. The willingness to pay was higher for carers with higher disposable income while the influence of other factors varied across countries. About one-third of carers were not willing to pay anything for a reduction in care. The authors concluded that carers’ stated willingness to pay for reductions in care giving time is substantial and comparable to the prices currently paid for treatments that achieve this benefit. Its determinants seem more directly related to carer status than directly to patient status and may vary by region and by cultural and sociologic factors.
Dignity and older Europeans: report of focus groups of young and middle-aged adults: partner 3: Fundacio Hospital Asil de Granollers
- Author:
- BLASCO Sergio Arino
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity is often cited in policies and papers relating to older people, yet there is little evidence regarding what dignity means in practice or how it may be best promoted in health and social care. The Dignity and Older Europeans Project explored these issues with older people and care professionals in a cross-national study. Dignity was seen as a highly relevant and important concept, enhancing self-esteem, self-worth and wellbeing. In general the participants found it easier to identify situations when dignity was lacking than to identify times when it was present or what it meant. For the dignity of older people to be enhanced, person-centred care must address communication issues, privacy, personal identity and feelings of vulnerability. In particular, there is a need for education of all health and social professionals to better appreciate what dignity means and for policies that promote greater dignity for all older people in society.
Dignity and older Europeans: final report of focus groups of Spanish older people
- Author:
- BLASCO Sergio Arino
- Publisher:
- Dignity and Older Europeans Consortium
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 57p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Dignity and Older Europeans is an international research project which brings together a range of academics, clinicians, and user groups to explore the concept of dignity in the lives of Older Europeans. The project spanned 3 years until December 2004 and involved 8 partners from 6 European countries including UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Slovakia The right to, and the need for dignity is frequently cited in policy documents relating to the health and social care of older people. It is also expressed as an important value in professional codes and declarations of human rights. Yet concerns about the standards of care for a growing number of older people abound despite global ageing being a well-recognised phenomenon. Dignity is a complex concept that is difficult to define. If today’s, as well as tomorrow’s older people are to experience dignity in health and social care, as well as in other aspects of their lives, then these complexities need to be clarified.
Evaluation of the home help service and its impact on the informal caregiver's burden of dependent elders
- Authors:
- CARRETERO Stephanie, GARCES Jorge, RODENAS Francisco
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(8), August 2007, pp.738-749.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study looks at the objective and subjective characteristics of home respite service provision and its impact on the informal care burden of dependent elders. A sample of 296 dependent people and their informal caregivers was randomly selected among users and non-users of the Home Help Service (HHS) in an autonomous Spanish region (Comunidad Valenciana). An experimental design was used and a field study was carrying out that collected information on sociodemographic variables of the dependent person and his/her caregiver, HHS characteristics and the assessment of the services delivered by this resource as well as the informal caregivers' burden. The results show that the services of this resource are very limited, with low cover and frequency, and they do not address the real dependency needs in specific activities of daily living. However, users and caregivers are satisfied with this care and experience a higher quality of life since it was implemented, although the HHS does not alleviate informal caregivers' stress. These data show the need to extend the services delivered by the HHS and the duration of care, address the caregiver's need for psychological care, and look at potentially modifiable variables in the care context when designing prevention and psychosocial intervention programmes to lessen the informal caregiver's burden.
Assessment of the efficacy of a stress management program for informal caregivers of dependent older adults
- Authors:
- LOPEZ Javier, CRESPO Maria, ZARIT Steven H.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 47(2), April 2007, pp.205-214.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The majority of dependent older adults receive care at home from a family member. Caregiving places enormous demands on these caregivers and the negative consequences associated with caregiving are well documented. This Spanish study compared the effectiveness of two active interventions to a waiting-list control condition to improve emotional well-being in family caregivers. The study randomized distressed caregivers (N = 91) of physically impaired older adults to one of three conditions: traditional weekly sessions, minimal-therapist-contact sessions, or a waiting-list control group. These manual-guided interventions took place over a 2-month period. Caregivers in the traditional weekly sessions experienced the highest reduction in depressive and anxious symptoms. Compared with control participants, caregivers in the traditional weekly sessions had lower post treatment levels of depression and anxiety. They had also lower levels of depression than did caregivers in the minimal-therapist-contact intervention. These data suggest that traditional weekly sessions may be effective in reducing caregiver anxiety and depression. They further suggest that traditional weekly sessions are better than no intervention, and they are also better than a minimal-therapist-contact intervention.
Depression and anxiety in primary caregivers: a comparative study of caregivers of demented and nondemented older persons
- Authors:
- CRESPO Maria, LOPEZ Javier, ZARIT Steve H.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(6), June 2005, pp.5921-592.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Briefly reports on a study to investigate the emotional state of care-givers of demented and nondemented patients and the stress experienced by both types of caregivers. The results suggest that the nature of the older person's illness (dementia or non-dementia) may not be as important for the caregivers' emotional state as their appraisals and resources for managing care-related problems.