Dementia : coping with the caregiving role
Date
1990
Authors
Thorstad, Kelly Gayle
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Abstract
As the proportion of the aged population continues to grow, a corresponding increase in dementing illness has resulted. A subsequent increase in the need for adequate long- term care for these dementing individuals has also occurred and will continue to increase over the next few decades. Family care for the elderly is providing a pivotal role in health care and is often a link between community living and institutionalization of the elderly. Indeed, both the relatives of the elderly and health care systems share the expense of caring for dementing individuals.
The debilitating and chronic course of most dementing illnesses is reviewed. Dementia not only affects the diseased individual, but their family members as well. This impact on the family has been met by a growing concern about the effects of caring for a dementing individual; a wealth of literature on caregiving has emerged. Caregiver distress, caregiver burden, and caregiver well- being are some of the terms used to refer to the psychological, social, and economical ramifications of caregiving.
Coping with the long- term stresses of a dementing disease is affected by many variables and can largely influence perceptions of distress, burden and/or well-being. Many investigators have reported that the caregiver's general coping skills are essential features to be considered. Few caregiving studies, however, have investigated specific coping strategies used by dementia caregivers. A better understanding of the relationship between different coping methods and caregiver perceptions of stress may help caregivers, heal th care professionals , and social intervention programmes employ more effective coping strategies and lessen the burden of caregiving.
The present study is a preliminary exploration into the relationship between caregiver stress and coping methods. Thirty-three caregivers of dementing individuals living in the Victoria area participated in a personal interview and completed two self-report questionnaires. Psychological symptom patterns of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as well as active cognitive, active behavioural , and avoidance coping styles were measured . Results indicate a positive correlation among avoidance coping and stress manifestations. The caregivers who reported using more avoidance coping strategies also reported more stress symptoms in all dimensions measured except depression.
The complexity and individuality of the caregiving situation as well as the multidimensional interaction among various aspects of the caregiver, the care recipient, coping methods, and social support are discussed. A new approach to the concept of caregiver distress models is presented.