Informal Caregivers Aptitude to Aid in Daily Activities of Patients with Dementia
Disciplines
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Disability Studies | Diseases | Geriatric Nursing | Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental Disorders | Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Abstract
Background: There is a plethora of research in regards to caregiver burden. The caregivers of patients with dementia experience significant amounts of caregiver burden due to the physical and cognitive impairments associated with the disease process. Despite the in-depth research regarding the caregiver burden of caregivers of patients with dementia, there is little known about how informal caregivers perceive their ability to provide assistance to those they care for during daily activities. Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify informal caregivers’ perceived ability to provide care during activities of daily living for patients with dementia and assess the types of interventions that could aid in their care. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were employed to guide the selection process of research literature. Medline, CINAHL, and PubMed were used to complete a comprehensive review of the research literature. The informal caregivers’ burden was measured with the short version of the Zarit Burden Interview, which represents a self-reported questionnaire completed by the caregivers in regards to their perceived burden. Interventions including mindfulness, occupational therapy, and Connected Health were also assessed. Results: Fourteen articles were included in the study. These articles met the inclusion criteria. The results of the study illustrated that informal caregivers possessed a limited understanding of the sequential decline in ADL and appropriate interventions due to the amount of time dedicated to aiding the patients. However, the intervention of mindfulness decreased the amount of stress and depression experienced by both the informal caregiver and the patient. Conclusion: The information collected can be used to aid and provide interventions for informal caregivers in their care of patients with dementia, specifically for the assistance of activities of daily living.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Mary Ramos
Informal Caregivers Aptitude to Aid in Daily Activities of Patients with Dementia
Abstract
Background: There is a plethora of research in regards to caregiver burden. The caregivers of patients with dementia experience significant amounts of caregiver burden due to the physical and cognitive impairments associated with the disease process. Despite the in-depth research regarding the caregiver burden of caregivers of patients with dementia, there is little known about how informal caregivers perceive their ability to provide assistance to those they care for during daily activities. Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify informal caregivers’ perceived ability to provide care during activities of daily living for patients with dementia and assess the types of interventions that could aid in their care. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were employed to guide the selection process of research literature. Medline, CINAHL, and PubMed were used to complete a comprehensive review of the research literature. The informal caregivers’ burden was measured with the short version of the Zarit Burden Interview, which represents a self-reported questionnaire completed by the caregivers in regards to their perceived burden. Interventions including mindfulness, occupational therapy, and Connected Health were also assessed. Results: Fourteen articles were included in the study. These articles met the inclusion criteria. The results of the study illustrated that informal caregivers possessed a limited understanding of the sequential decline in ADL and appropriate interventions due to the amount of time dedicated to aiding the patients. However, the intervention of mindfulness decreased the amount of stress and depression experienced by both the informal caregiver and the patient. Conclusion: The information collected can be used to aid and provide interventions for informal caregivers in their care of patients with dementia, specifically for the assistance of activities of daily living.