DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC12.24
Authors: Farideh Bastani
Abstract: Background & Aim: Caregiver burden refers to the presence of problems, difficulties which affect the life of caregivers of elders with Alzheimer’s disease. The burden can affect caregivers' abilityto provide quality care to the patients. It is necessary to investigate caregiver burden in order to design programs to ease it. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the female caregivers’ burden of elders with Alzheimer Disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of 112 women as family care givers of patients with Alzheimer disease from the Iranian Alzheimer Association in Tehran, Iran. For data collection, a self report questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The score of caregiver’s burden was 34.12 ±1.21 that means the subjective burden level was high in the majority of the women. There was a significant correlation between the two variables of caregivers’ burden and economic status (P=0.007). Discussion & Conclusion: Caring for a person with Alzheimer is a stressful experience, particularly in female caregivers with different roles. Our findings highlight the strong association of caregiver burden and the economic status. Financial help and extended social support should be considered in the women. Moreover, health professionals who treat either caregivers or people with Alzheimer Disease should be aware of the impact of economic status has on the female caregivers burden.
Keywords: Caregiving Burden; Elderly; Women’s Health; Alzheimer Disease
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