Abstract
Objectives
Informal care has poor effects on caregivers’ health status. Several studies targeted informal caregivers of dependent or severely ill old persons. But, few of them analysed non-dependent old persons caregivers and their perceived loneliness. We hypothesized that perceived loneliness is an independent factor that worsen the caregiver burden and perceived health status. The aim of this study is to analyze factors associated to the perceived loneliness of caregivers of the non-dependent old persons.
Methods
A Cross-sectional study has been conducted among 876 dyads. Old persons over 70 years of age, non-dependent, living at home and their caregiver eligible for social support by retirement and occupational health insurance in South-east of France were included. Caregivers were assessed by the Mini-Zarit Scale for the burden, and with 5-point -Likert scales for loneliness and perceived health status. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to analyze explanatory variables related to loneliness.
Results
Characteristics of the caregivers were: 64.5% female, 29% spouse, 61% children; 64% with frailty and 38% with high burden, 10.5% of them felt often or always lonely. Loneliness was positively associated to (OR; CI 95%): caregiver’s poor health status (3.40; 1.60-7.23), burden (4.06; 1.99-8.27), sleep disorders (3.75; 1.85-7.60), anxiety (6.64; 3.23-13.65) and a bad relationship with the old persons (2.17; 1.11-4.25). Loneliness was negatively associated to a good family support (0.33; 0.17-0.63) and living alone (0.34; 0.16-0.76).
Discussion
Loneliness should be differentiated from social isolation. Caregivers loneliness is not very frequent but highly correlated to a poor health status perception. Thus, it is essential that health care providers assess for caregivers’ perceived loneliness to implement specifics supporting actions to improve health status.
Key messages
Caregivers loneliness is not very frequent but highly correlated to a poor health status perception. It is essential that health care providers assess for caregivers’ perceived loneliness to implement specifics supporting actions to improve health status.
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