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The Burden of Care for Families of Elderly Persons with Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Arthur S. Kraus
Affiliation:
Queen's University

Abstract

A survey of 119 elderly persons with dementia was conducted in the Kingston, Ontario area. Among the findings regarding the burden of care for families of such persons are:

1. The proportion of key relatives who said providing the needed care to the subjects had been very difficult was significantly higher for those who have become residents of institutions than those still at home.

2. Objective measures of severity of the subjects' dementia were at particularly high levels for individuals for whom providing care had been difficult, while measures which reflect the physical burden of providing care were not.

3. Among the subjects for whom providing care had been very difficult, extreme behavioural manifestations (e.g., physical violence) were reported for 67 per cent, versus only 1 per cent of remaining subjects.

4. The value system of family providers of care also plays an important role in whether the afflicted person is admitted to an institution.

Résumé

Fardeau des soins supporté par les familles des déments séniles

Une enquête portant sur 119 déments âgés a êté effectuée à Kingston, en Ontario. Les résultats concernant le fardeau supporté par les familles indiquent que:

1) La proportion des parents clés déclarant avoir trouvé lourd le fardeau des soins à procurer au sujet est sensiblement plus élevé chez ceux qui ont du être placés en institution que chez ceux qui sont demeurés chez eux;

2) Les mesures objectives concernant la gravité de la démence atteignent des niveaux particulièrement élevés chez les sujets dont le soin s'est avéré très difficile, tandis que les mesures concernant les fardeau physique des soins n'atteignent pas un niveau très élevé;

3) Parmi les sujets dont le soin s'est avéré très difficile, des manifestations de comportement extrême (violence physique, par exemple) ont été rapportés dans 67% des cas, contre 1% dans les autres cas;

4) Le système de valeurs propres aux familles chargées du soin des malades influe sur la décision de faire institutionnaliser les sujets ou des les garder à la maison.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1984

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References

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