Influences on Caregivers of Older Veterans’ Perceptions of Their Quality of Life
Author Information
Author(s): Moo Lauren, Chamberlin Elizabeth, Ngo Victoria, Shirk Steven
Primary Institution: Department of Veterans Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Hypothesis
Caregiver and care recipient factors influence caregiver quality of life.
Conclusion
Caregivers who prioritize their own medical care and social activities experience better quality of life, despite the demands of caregiving.
Supporting Evidence
- Greater dependence of the Veteran on the caregiver for ADLs and iADLs was associated with poorer QoL.
- Cohabitation with the Veteran was associated with poorer QoL.
- Making time for medical care and social needs were important predictors of higher caregiver QoL.
- Making time for social activities is the strongest predictor of QoL.
Takeaway
Taking care of yourself is really important for caregivers, even if they have a lot to do for the person they are helping.
Methodology
A national web-based survey of informal caregivers of older Veterans.
Limitations
Cohabitation with the care recipient may be challenging to address due to various reasons.
Participant Demographics
Informal caregivers of older Veterans.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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