What You Believe Can Affect How You Feel: Anger Among Caregivers of Elderly People With Dementia

Psychological Distress, Multicare Needs and Social Resource Utilisation of Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Descriptive-Correlational Study

BACKGROUND

The population of people with dementia increases yearly, imposing a growing burden on family caregivers. Psychological distress impacts the mental health of family caregivers of people with dementia. Caregiver psychological distress can result in increased social resource utilisation and unmet multicare needs.

PURPOSE

The study explored the psychological distress of family caregivers of people with dementia and examined the impact on social resource utilisation and multicare needs.

METHODS

A descriptive-correlational study collected data in Taiwan from a cross-sectional sample of family caregivers of people with dementia using a self-report questionnaire. Data were analysed using linear and logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 301 caregivers provided data for analysis. Nearly two-thirds of caregivers were female with a mean age of 57 years old (SD = 12). Over half of the family caregivers of people with dementia experienced mild-to-moderate psychological distress. The greater the psychological distress, the greater the probability of using social resources (1.09 times per 1-point increase, p = 0.002). Psychological distress was positively associated with the number of caregivers' care needs (β = 0.371, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this study can assist healthcare professionals in better understanding the psychological distress and care needs of caregivers. Services designed to meet the needs of family caregivers will improve psychological distress.

Affective Impact on Informal Caregivers over 70 Years of Age: A Qualitative Study

Given today's rapidly ageing society, family members providing informal care to dependent older adults face ever-increasing challenges. The aim of this study was to describe the affective impact on older adults over 70 years of age caring for a dependent older person at home. A qualitative study was designed from a phenomenological perspective. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers aged 70 or older. A content analysis of the interviews was carried out in five stages. Three themes were identified: "Emotions", "Feelings", and "Looking to the future". Caregivers express negative emotions (sadness, anger, and fear) and feelings of social and emotional isolation, and they feel abandoned by health professionals, family, and friends. In conclusion, prolonged caregiving by older adults has a negative affective impact and creates uncertainty about the future. There is a need to devise social and healthcare policies and actions, creating social support networks to improve their health and emotional wellbeing.

The relationship between caregiver burden and anger level of informal caregivers of patients in palliative care centre

BACKGROUND

Palliative care is a comprehensive service that includes not only the patient but also the caregivers.

AIMS

This research was carried out to determine the relationship and factors affecting the burden and anger level of informal caregivers of patients.

METHODS

This descriptive study was conducted with caregivers (n=206) of patients hospitalised in two Palliative Care Centers in Ordu, Türkiye.

FINDINGS

In the research, it was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between the burden of caregivers and the trait anger level, anger-in, anger-out sub-dimension scores of The Trait Anger and Anger Expression Scale, but a negative relationship was found between the burden of caregivers and anger control sub-dimension scores of The Trait Anger and Anger Expression Scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of a caregiving process has a positive impact on the trait anger level, anger-in, anger-out but has a negative impact on anger control. Nurses should monitor a caregiver's level of anger and burden and develop programmes required to decrease the caregiver's anger level and burden.