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Sabatini S, Martyr A, Hunt A, Gamble LD, Matthews FE, Thom JM, Jones RW, Allan L, Knapp M, Quinn C, Victor C, Pentecost C, Rusted JM, Morris RG, Clare L. Health conditions in spousal caregivers of people with dementia and their relationships with stress, caregiving experiences, and social networks: longitudinal findings from the IDEAL programme. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:171. [PMID: 38373905 PMCID: PMC10875834 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04707-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Longitudinal evidence documenting health conditions in spousal caregivers of people with dementia and whether these influence caregivers' outcomes is scarce. This study explores type and number of health conditions over two years in caregivers of people with dementia and subgroups based on age, sex, education, hours of care, informant-rated functional ability, neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition of the person with dementia, and length of diagnosis in the person with dementia. It also explores whether over time the number of health conditions is associated with caregivers' stress, positive experiences of caregiving, and social networks METHODS: Longitudinal data from the IDEAL (Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life) cohort were used. Participants comprised spousal caregivers (n = 977) of people with dementia. Self-reported health conditions using the Charlson Comorbidity Index, stress, positive experiences of caregiving, and social network were assessed over two years. Mixed effect models were used RESULTS: On average participants had 1.5 health conditions at baseline; increasing to 2.1 conditions over two years. More health conditions were reported by caregivers who were older, had no formal education, provided 10 + hours of care per day, and/or cared for a person with more neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline. More baseline health conditions were associated with greater stress at baseline but not with stress over time. Over two years, when caregivers' health conditions increased, their stress increased whereas their social network diminished DISCUSSION: Findings highlight that most caregivers have their own health problems which require management to avoid increased stress and shrinking of social networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Sabatini
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anthony Martyr
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
| | - Anna Hunt
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Laura D Gamble
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Fiona E Matthews
- Institute for Clinical and Applied Health Research, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Jeanette M Thom
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Roy W Jones
- Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE), Bath, UK
| | - Louise Allan
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South-West Peninsula, Exeter, UK
| | - Martin Knapp
- London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Catherine Quinn
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, Bradford University, Bradford, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, UK
| | - Christina Victor
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Claire Pentecost
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Robin G Morris
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Linda Clare
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South-West Peninsula, Exeter, UK
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Szcześniak D, Rymaszewska J, Saibene FL, Lion KM, D'arma A, Brooker D, Evans SB, Evans SC, Chattat R, Scorolli C, Meiland F, Hendriks I, Dröes RM, Farina E. Meeting centres support programme highly appreciated by people with dementia and carers: a European cross-country evaluation. Aging Ment Health 2021; 25:149-159. [PMID: 31684754 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1683814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) offers a combined approach to providing practical, emotional and social support to people living with mild to moderately severe dementia and their family carers in the community. METHODS A mixed methods explanatory design was used. The evaluation took place within the framework of the international Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) - MEETINGDEM study in nine Meeting Centres in Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. Eighty-seven people with dementia and 81 family carers completed a user evaluation survey after three months and 83 people with dementia and 84 carers after 6 months of participation in MCSP. Thirty-two people with dementia and 30 carers took part in focus groups after nine months. RESULTS The percentage of people with dementia who were very satisfied with the programme increased significantly over time (p = 0.05). The majority of carers reported that they felt less burdened after three months of participation in MCSP (48.1% much less; 35.4% a little less). After six months, this percentage increased significantly to 91% (p = 0.04, 57.7% much less; 33.3% little less). Focus group analysis showed that people with dementia and carers in all countries/centres improved their ability to maintain emotional balance. CONCLUSIONS The MCSP is highly appreciated by people with dementia and carers in all countries and it confirms the results of previous research into MCSP in the Netherlands. Our findings indicate that MCSP is a model that can help its users to increase their capacity to deal with the challenges caused by dementia and can promote emotional balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Szcześniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | - Dawn Brooker
- Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Shirley B Evans
- Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Simon C Evans
- Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester, United Kingdom
| | - Rabih Chattat
- Department of Philosophy and Communication Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Scorolli
- Department of Philosophy and Communication Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Franka Meiland
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iris Hendriks
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rose-Marie Dröes
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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