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Correlates of objective and subjective measures of caregiver burden among dementia caregivers: influence of unmet patient and caregiver dementia-related care needs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 August 2014

Travonia B. Hughes ,
Betty S. Black ,
Marilyn Albert ,
Laura N. Gitlin ,
Deirdre M. Johnson ,
Constantine G. Lyketsos  and
Quincy M. Samus
Travonia B. Hughes
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Betty S. Black
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Marilyn Albert
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Laura N. Gitlin
Affiliation:
Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Deirdre M. Johnson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Constantine G. Lyketsos
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Quincy M. Samus*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Quincy Miles Samus, PhD, MS, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Phone: 410-550-6744. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

This study examines the relationship of unmet dementia-related care needs of community-dwelling persons, and their caregivers (CGs), to measures of caregiver burden.

Methods:

Cross-sectional baseline data were analyzed from participants in a dementia care coordination trial of community-residing persons with dementia (PWD) (n = 254) and their caregivers (n = 246). Participants were recruited from Northwest Baltimore, Maryland. The Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) was used to measure subjective caregiver burden. Objective burden was measured by estimating the total hours per week spent doing things for the PWD and/or how many hours CGs missed paid work in the prior month due to caregiving responsibilities. The Johns Hopkins Dementia Care Needs Assessment was used to identify unmet dementia-related care needs. Bivariate and multivariate linear regressions examined the relationship of unmet needs, demographic, clinical, or functional characteristics with caregiver burden measures.

Results:

In adjusted multivariable models, patient neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver unmet emotional needs explained 22% of the variance in ZBI scores. In adjusted multivariable models, caregiver need for respite, patient functional dependency, and caregiver unmet specialty medical needs explained 26% of the variance in the hours per week spent caregiving. PWD's level of functional dependency was the sole correlate of missed time at work, explaining 11% of the variance.

Conclusions:

Addressing potentially modifiable unmet caregiver needs may reduce subjective and objective caregiver burden.

Keywords

caregiverssubjective caregiver burdenobjective caregiver burdendementia caredementia care coordinationcommunity care
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 11 , November 2014 , pp. 1875 - 1883
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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