Psychosocial predictors of dementia caregiver desire to institutionalize: caregiver, care recipient, and family relationship factors

Several factors influence dementia caregiver desire to institutionalize; however, little is known about differences in caregivers who desire institutionalization versus those who do not. The current study compares predictors of desire to institutionalize in dementia caregivers. Seventy-two caregiver...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 16
Main Authors Spitznagel, Mary Beth, Tremont, Geoffrey, Davis, Jennifer Duncan, Foster, Suzanne M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.2006
Subjects
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Caregivers - psychology
Cost of Illness
Dementia - psychology
Dementia - therapy
Family Relations
Female
Homes for the Aged
Humans
Institutionalization
Male
Middle Aged
Motivation
Nursing Homes
Risk Factors
Social Support
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Several factors influence dementia caregiver desire to institutionalize; however, little is known about differences in caregivers who desire institutionalization versus those who do not. The current study compares predictors of desire to institutionalize in dementia caregivers. Seventy-two caregivers completed the Desire to Institutionalize Scale (DIS) and several psychosocial measures, including burden, dementia knowledge, self-efficacy, depression, health, care recipient daily functioning and memory/behavior problems, family functioning, and social support. Based on DIS responses, caregivers were divided into No DI versus DI groups. DI caregivers had significantly higher burden, greater dementia knowledge, more family dysfunction, and decreased social support compared with No DI caregivers. Findings emphasize the importance of caregiver and family relationship variables in DIS, suggesting potentially modifiable targets for caregiver interventions. Dementia knowledge was associated with higher DIS, suggesting that educational programs alone may not be helpful to delay institutionalization.
ISSN:0891-9887
DOI:10.1177/0891988705284713