scholarly journals Validation of the Italian Version of the Caregiver Abuse Screen among Family Caregivers of Older People with Alzheimer’s Disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gabriella Melchiorre ◽  
Mirko Di Rosa ◽  
Francesco Barbabella ◽  
Norma Barbini ◽  
Fabrizia Lattanzio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Older People ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Italian Version ◽  
People With Dementia

Introduction. Elder abuse is often a hidden phenomenon and, in many cases, screening practices are difficult to implement among older people with dementia. The Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) is a useful tool which is administered to family caregivers for detecting their potential abusive behavior.Objectives. To validate the Italian version of the CASE tool in the context of family caregiving of older people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to identify risk factors for elder abuse in Italy.Methods. The CASE test was administered to 438 caregivers, recruited in the Up-Tech study. Validity and reliability were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation coefficients, principal-component analysis, and Cronbach’s alphas. The association between the CASE and other variables potentially associated with elder abuse was also analyzed.Results. The factor analysis suggested the presence of a single factor, with a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.86). CASE score was strongly correlated with well-known risk factors of abuse. At multivariate level, main factors associated with CASE total score were caregiver burden and AD-related behavioral disturbances.Conclusions. The Italian version of the CASE is a reliable and consistent screening tool for tackling the risk of being or becoming perpetrators of abuse by family caregivers of people with AD.

Psychometric Properties of the Family Stigma in Alzheimer's Disease Scale in Greek Professional Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-282
Author(s):  
Marianna Mantzorou ◽  
Sofia Zyga ◽  
Dimos Mastrogiannis ◽  
Evmorfia Koukia
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Internal Consistency ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Background and PurposesThe present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Family Stigma in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FS-ADS) in the Greek population.MethodsThe Greek version of the FS-ADS as well as the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was administered to 171 healthcare professional caring for people with dementia. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to examine the factor structure of the FS-ADS. Test–retest reliability was measured by administration of the FS-ADS in 20 individuals.ResultsPrincipal component analysis revealed 5, 8 and 3 factors (subscales) for each dimension of the original questionnaire, respectively, similar to other previously reported results in the literature. The overall Cronbach's α was .899, yielding a high internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was very high (r = 0.903, p < .001). Statistically significant relationships were found between most of the FS-ADS dimensions and Maslach subscales.ConclusionThe findings favor the use of FS-ADS in nurses and professional caregivers in general, for measuring stigma in dementia in Greece.

Longitudinal study of medication use in caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease – Kuopio ALSOVA study

Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1573-1585
Author(s):  
Tarja Välimäki ◽  
Julia FM Gilmartin-Thomas ◽  
J Simon Bell ◽  
Tuomas Selander ◽  
Anne M Koivisto
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Social Insurance ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Kappa Statistics ◽  
Prescription Register ◽  
People With Dementia

Background The longitudinal pattern of medication use among family caregivers of people with dementia is not well understood, despite the potential for medication over- or under-use. Objectives To investigate caregiver medication use over a five-year follow-up using data obtained via self-report and from a national prescription register, and compare agreement between medication data obtained from the two sources. Methods Medication data for 222 family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease were obtained via self-report and from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution. Generalised estimating equations, Kappa statistics and related samples Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyse medication use over time. Results The mean number of medications used by caregivers increased from 3.4 to 4.1 (self-reported current regular medications) and 2.4 to 2.8 (reimbursed prescription medications during the past 90 days) over five years (p < 0.001). Significantly, more medications were identified via self-report (mean 3.6, SD = 3.3) than the national prescription register (mean 2.6, SD = 2.4, Z= –12.300, p < 0.001). Agreement between the two data sources was good for cardiovascular medications and anti-hypertensives (Kappa = 0.883–0.967, p < 0.001) and medications for acid-related disorders (Kappa = 0.508–0.092, p < 0.001). Agreement was moderate for analgesics (Kappa = 0.281–0.477, p < 0.001) and psychotropics (Kappa = 0.281–0.562, p < 0.002). The proportion of caregivers using five or more medications increased from 27.5% to 44.6% (self-report), and 16.7% to 27.7% (register) (p < 0.001). Conclusion Caregivers use an increasing number of medications in the first five years of caring for persons with dementia, and self-report using a higher number of medications than data from the national prescription register suggest.

Quality of life in dementia: the role of non-cognitive factors in the ratings of people with dementia and family caregivers

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1097-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fernanda Barroso Sousa ◽  
Raquel Luiza Santos ◽  
Cynthia Arcoverde ◽  
Pedro Simões ◽  
Tatiana Belfort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Significant Difference

ABSTRACTBackground: The validity of self-reported quality-of-life (QoL) assessments of people with dementia (PWD) is a critical issue. We designed this study to determine the non-cognitive factors that are associated with self-reported QoL and PWD QoL as rated by family caregivers.Methods: Using a cross-sectional study, we assessed QoL of 41 people with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The individuals with AD and their family caregivers completed the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QoL-AD), the Assessment Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), the Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the contribution of the various cofactors.Results: We observed a significant difference (t = 3.292, p < 0.01, d = 0.727) in the QoL measures of PWD after comparing self-reported assessments with the assessments of family caregivers. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that awareness of disease was related to PWD QoL-AD scores. Both the education levels of family caregivers and the depressive symptoms in PWD were related to the family caregivers’ ratings of PWD QoL.Conclusions: The difference between self-reported QoL and family caregivers’ ratings of QoL in people with mild dementia indicated that cognitive impairment was not the primary factor that accounted for the differences in the QoL assessments. Our findings suggested that non-cognitive factors, such as awareness of disease and depressive symptoms, played an important role in the differences between the self-reported AD QoL ratings and the caregivers’ AD QoL ratings. A major implication is that discrete measures such as cognition or level of function are likely to miss important factors that influence QoL.

Doing the Right Thing: A Geriatrician's Perspective on Medical Care for the Person with Advanced Dementia

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel R. Gillick
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Older People ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Reasonable Approach ◽  
The Right ◽  
Number Of Individuals

America is aging. But even more striking than the rise in the proportion of the population over age 65 is the unprecedented number of individuals who are living into their eighties and nineties. While many people remain robust well into advanced age, the dramatic increase in the number of the oldest old has brought with it an epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Dementia is a highly prevalent condition — currently 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, a number which may rise to 16 million by 2050 if there is no breakthrough in the prevention or treatment of the disease — but it disproportionately affects those over age 85, striking between one-third and one-half of this cohort. Developing a reasonable approach to the medical care of older people with dementia will be essential in the coming decades.

scholarly journals Group for family/caregivers of elderly with Alzheimer’s: experience of teachers based on the complexity

Rev Rene ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silomar Ilha ◽  
Dirce Stein Backes ◽  
Silvana Sidney Costa Santos ◽  
Daiane Porto Gautério-Abreu ◽  
Claudia Zamberlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Strategic Analysis ◽  
Raising Awareness

Objective: to understand the relationships experienced by a group of health care teachers directed to family members/caregivers of older people with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: qualitative research, conducted with five teachers participating in a support group developed in a university. Data collected by the technique of focus group submitted to Focal Strategic Analysis. Results: six categories were identified: Difficulty in raising awareness of the participants about Alzheimer’s disease; The interdisciplinary in the guidelines; Exchange of knowledge; Acquire/search for more knowledge; Expansion/socialization of knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease: an even existing challenge; Absence attendance: a threat to the existence of the group. Conclusion: the disorder is a reality experienced by teachers in the group, which is (re)organize constantly seeking the best way to guide and foster care.

scholarly journals COGNIC - A Mobile Device Application Used for Cognitive Stimulation in Older People with Dementia

Abakós ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-42
Author(s):  
Antônio Augusto de Faria Guimarães Melo Pertence ◽  
Rosilane Ribeiro da Mota ◽  
Luciana de Oliveira Assis
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Older People ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Usability Tests ◽  
Frequent Form ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
And Control

Dementia is characterized by marked cognitive impairment and is a prevalent mental illness among older people. Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent form of dementia, affecting memory and other cognitive functions. Although there is no cure for the disease, there are treatments that can relieve cognitive symptoms and control the behavior of affected individuals. In recent years, there has been a progressive increase in the use of applications designed for smartphones and tablets for the non-pharmacological treatment of dementia. This article describes the development of an application for mobile devices with the Android® platform operating system based on guidelines established in the literature to be used by health professionals who provide care for older people with a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The application was evaluated employing usability tests and questionnaires, the results of which indicated that the application met the proposed objectives, validating the guidelines established in the literature for the development of applications for this population.

scholarly journals Efficacy of an evidence-based cognitive stimulation therapy programme for people with dementia

2003 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee Spector ◽  
Lene Thorgrimsen ◽  
Bob Woods ◽  
Lindsay Royan ◽  
Steve Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Older People ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy ◽  
People With Dementia

BackgroundA recent Cochrane review of reality orientation therapy identified the need for large, well-designed, multi-centre trials.AimsTo test the hypothesis that cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) for older people with dementia would benefit cognition and quality of life.MethodA single-blind, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial recruited 201 older people with dementia. The main outcome measures were change in cognitive function and quality of life. An intention-to-treat analysis used analysis of covariance to control for potential variability in baseline measures.ResultsOne hundred and fifteen people were randomised within centres to the intervention group and 86 to the control group. At follow-up the intervention group had significantly improved relative to the control group on the Mini-Mental State Examination (P=0.044), the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale – Cognition (ADAS–Cog) (P=0.014) and Quality of Life – Alzheimer's Disease scales (P=0.028). Using criteria of 4 points or more improvement on the ADAS–Cog the number needed to treat was 6 for the intervention group.ConclusionThe results compare favourably with trials of drugs for dementia. CST groups may have worthwhile benefits for many people with dementia.

scholarly journals Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Characteristics and Their Relationship with Anticipatory Grief

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8838
Author(s):  
Alba Pérez-González ◽  
Josep Vilajoana-Celaya ◽  
Joan Guàrdia-Olmos
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Anticipatory Grief ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sociodemographic Data ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Person With Dementia

In Alzheimer’s disease, two fundamental aspects become important for caregivers: ambiguity and ambivalence. Thus, anticipatory grief is considered an active psychological process that is very different from the mere anticipation of death. The present study aims to determine which characteristics of family caregivers of people with dementia, such as age, gender, educational level, relationship with the person with dementia, years with dementia or years as a caregiver, are related to the presence of anticipatory grief. A cross-sectional design was employed. The sample consisted of a total of 129 subjects who cared for a family member with dementia. A sociodemographic data sheet and a battery of tests measure the presence of anticipatory grief, caregiver burden and/or psychopathology. The results obtained allowed us to confirm some of the hypotheses regarding the anticipatory grief construct, the importance of the care time factor, in years and per day, as well as the relevance of the previous demographic and psychopathological profile (being female, spouse function and possible depressive symptomatology). Likewise, from the prediction analyzes performed, it seems that these variables can predict anticipatory grief. These results propose interesting opportunities to formulate care proposals to professionals and family caregivers in relation to care tasks and caregiver skills.

“In the flesh”: Narratives of family caregivers at risk of Early-onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1474-1491
Author(s):  
Maritza García-Toro ◽  
María Cruz Sánchez-Gómez ◽  
Lucía Madrigal Zapata ◽  
Francisco Javier Lopera
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Familial Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Familial Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
The Impact

In the growing body of literature dealing with the consequences of family caregiving amongst people with dementia, there are few studies examining the impact of Early-onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease on caregivers. This study exposes the subjective experience of a group of family caregivers who themselves possess a genetic susceptibility to develop this form of dementia. We interviewed and analyzed the accounts of 27 caregivers belonging to family lineages carrying the E280A mutation for Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. We utilized a phenomenological method to analyze these accounts, initially tracking seven theoretical categories (Anxiety, Depression, Burden, Resilience, Self-efficacy, Social Support, and Coping Strategies) and then subsequently two additional categories which emerged (Conceptions about the Disease and Other Vital Experiences Interfering with Caregiving). The results show that caring for a loved one while simultaneously running the risk of developing the same form of Alzheimer’s Disease permeates the caregivers’ experience both in a negative and a positive way. The continuous exposition to emotional stress in these caregivers should be seriously considered as they may be at risk of accelerating the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, while simultaneously, early psychological symptoms of dementia may be masked by the emotional sequelae of caregiving, interfering with early diagnosis. Certainly, support services for the entire family group are suggested.

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