TY - JOUR
T1 - The psychosocial health status of carers of persons with dementia
T2 - A comparison with the chronically ill
AU - LoGiudice, D.
AU - Kerse, N.
AU - Brown, K.
AU - Gibson, S. J.
AU - Burrows, C.
AU - Ames, D.
AU - Young, D.
AU - Flicker, L.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - This project aimed to determine overall psychosocial health (measured using the psychosocial dimension of the Functional Limitations Profile) and factors which influence this in a group of carers of those with dementia and to compare their psychosocial health with that of older people attending general practitioners (GPs); arthritis support groups and a pain clinic (out- patients) and a group of community dwellers undergoing renal dialysis. The carer group showed a significant decrease in recreation and pastimes and social interactions compared to older GP attenders. The carers showed similar restrictions in social interactions and recreation to those with chronic arthritis, but the latter were more impaired in the domains of emotional behaviour and sleep and rest. The older people attending a pain clinic did not differ in the areas of alertness and social interactions compared to the carer group. The dialysis group demonstrated the greatest dysfunction overall. These results suggest that the psychosocial health of carers of those with dementia is impaired, the profile of which differs from those suffering with chronic diseases. Social and recreation activities appear most affected in the carers. Commensurate with studies exploring the health status of those suffering from diseases, the measurement of the psychosocial health status of carers should also be considered in the scope of assessment and intervention.
AB - This project aimed to determine overall psychosocial health (measured using the psychosocial dimension of the Functional Limitations Profile) and factors which influence this in a group of carers of those with dementia and to compare their psychosocial health with that of older people attending general practitioners (GPs); arthritis support groups and a pain clinic (out- patients) and a group of community dwellers undergoing renal dialysis. The carer group showed a significant decrease in recreation and pastimes and social interactions compared to older GP attenders. The carers showed similar restrictions in social interactions and recreation to those with chronic arthritis, but the latter were more impaired in the domains of emotional behaviour and sleep and rest. The older people attending a pain clinic did not differ in the areas of alertness and social interactions compared to the carer group. The dialysis group demonstrated the greatest dysfunction overall. These results suggest that the psychosocial health of carers of those with dementia is impaired, the profile of which differs from those suffering with chronic diseases. Social and recreation activities appear most affected in the carers. Commensurate with studies exploring the health status of those suffering from diseases, the measurement of the psychosocial health status of carers should also be considered in the scope of assessment and intervention.
KW - Care givers
KW - Dementia
KW - Psychosocial health status
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031957324&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.jstor.org/stable/4034527
U2 - 10.1023/A:1008850719789
DO - 10.1023/A:1008850719789
M3 - Article
C2 - 9610218
AN - SCOPUS:0031957324
SN - 0962-9343
VL - 7
SP - 345
EP - 351
JO - Quality of Life Research
JF - Quality of Life Research
IS - 4
ER -
