Caregiver Preparedness for Dementia vs Non-Dementia
Author Information
Author(s): Singh Roshni, Munoz Richard, Garcia-Davis Sandra, Lamba Saanvi, Dang Stuti, Ruiz Diana, Leykum Luci, Desir Marianne
Primary Institution: University of Miami
Hypothesis
Informal caregivers feel unprepared for specific tasks based on the dementia status of the Veterans they care for.
Conclusion
Dementia caregivers expressed more concerns about self-care and less about handling emergencies compared to non-dementia caregivers.
Supporting Evidence
- 296 dementia caregivers and 426 non-dementia caregivers were included in the study.
- Dementia caregivers expressed significantly more concerns about self-care (7.4% vs 3.1%, p=0.007).
- Non-dementia caregivers reported more concerns about handling emergencies (4.7% vs 1.7%, p=0.03).
- Caregivers had provided over five years of care (54.2%).
- Caregivers were mostly female (87.3%) and non-Hispanic white (71.4%).
- Differences in age between dementia and non-dementia caregivers were significant (70.9 vs 65.9 years, p< 0.001).
- 69.1% of dementia caregivers were spouses compared to 58.2% of non-dementia caregivers.
Takeaway
Caregivers of Veterans need more training to feel ready for their tasks, especially those caring for dementia patients who need help with self-care.
Methodology
Analysis of caregiver responses from the Veterans Affairs’ HERO CARE Survey, coded thematically into ten domains.
Participant Demographics
Caregivers were predominantly female (87.3%), non-Hispanic white (71.4%), and primary caregivers (85.9%) with an average age of 70.9 years for dementia caregivers and 65.9 years for non-dementia caregivers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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