Year: 2017
Type: report
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Family caregivers play a vital role in providing support to older adults living with dementia and other cognitive impairments.This report focuses on unpaid dementia caregivers, family and friends who help people with memory problems manage health issues and provide personal care.The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked a national sample of adults age 50-80 about their experiences caring for a person with dementia. Caregivers, Care Recipients and Care ProvidedOverall, 7% of poll respondents identified as a caregiver of a person age 65 or older with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or another cognitive impairment.The majority of caregivers (62%) were women.Three in five (60%) provided care to a parent, 19% to a spouse, and 21% to another relative, friend, or neighbor.Most caregivers (60%) have been providing care for 1-5 years and 29% have been doing so for 5 years or more.Nearly half of caregivers (45%) were employed in addition to having caregiving responsibilities.Almost half (48%) rated the care recipient's memory loss as mild, 36% as moderate, and 16% as severe.Caregivers reported that the majority of care recipients (70%) have another health condition and/or disability in addition to memory problems.About two in five caregivers (42%) provided daily care for an average of 9 hours per day, the equivalent of full-time.The other 58% provided part-time care.Dementia Caregivers: Juggling, Delaying, and Looking Forward How rewarding is caregiving?15 % Not rewarding Very or somewhat rewarding 85 % How stressful is caregiving?22 % 78 % Very or somewhat stressful Not stressful How Stressful and Rewarding is Dementia Caregiving?HEALTHYAGINGPOLL.
Authors: Erica Solway, Sarah L. Clark, Dianne Singer, Matthias Kirch, Preeti Malani
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2774505171