scholarly journals What Do Family Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Desire in Smart Home Technologies?

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (01) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ollivet ◽  
C. Guigui ◽  
C. Hervé ◽  
V. Rialle

Summary Objectives: The authors’ aim was to investigate the representations, wishes, and fears of family caregivers (FCs) regarding 14 innovative technologies (IT) for care aiding and burden alleviation, given the severe physical and psychological stress induced by dementia care, and the very slow uptake of these technologies in our society. Methods: A cluster sample survey based on a selfadministered questionnaire was carried out on data collected from 270 families of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders, located in the greater Paris area. Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used in addition to usual statistical tests to identify homogenous FCs clusters concerning the appreciation or rejection of the considered technologies. Results: Two opposite clusters were clearly defined: FCs in favor of a substantial use of technology, and those rather or totally hostile. Furthermore the distributions of almost all the answers of appreciations were U-shaped. Significant relations were demonstrated between IT appreciation and FC‘s family or gender statuses (e.g., female FCs appreciated a tracking device for quick recovering of wandering patients more than male FCs: p = 0.0025, N = 195). Conclusions: The study provides further evidence of the contrasted perception of technology in dementia care at home, and suggests the development of public debates based on rigorous assessment of practices and a strict ethical aim to protect against misuse.


2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482097924
Author(s):  
Molly A. Mather ◽  
Holly B. Laws ◽  
Jasmine S. Dixon ◽  
Rebecca E. Ready ◽  
Anna M. Akerstedt

Poor sleep in persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common stressor for family caregivers. Retrospective reports support associations between sleep disturbance in persons with AD and worse caregiver mood; however, prospective associations between sleep in persons with AD and caregiver outcomes have not been studied. The current study determined associations between affect and sleep of persons with AD and their caregivers using daily diary data. Multilevel mediation models indicated that sleep in persons with AD is linked to caregiver affect; furthermore, these associations are mediated by sleep characteristics in caregivers and affect in persons with AD. Daily fluctuations in sleep behaviors in persons with AD—rather than average values—were most strongly associated with caregiver outcomes. Interventions to improve sleep in persons with AD may decrease their negative affect and improve caregiver mood.



2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Zhao ◽  
Xiaozhen Lv ◽  
Maimaitirexiati Tuerxun ◽  
Jincai He ◽  
Benyan Luo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:The prevalence and factors associated with delays in help seeking for people with dementia in China are unknown.Methods:Within 1,010 consecutively registered participants in the Clinical Pathway for Alzheimer's Disease in China (CPAD) study (NCT01779310), 576 persons with dementia (PWDs) and their informants reported the estimated time from symptom onset to first medical visit seeking diagnosis. Univariate analysis of general linear model was used to examine the potential factors associated with the delayed diagnosis seeking.Results:The median duration from the first noticeable symptom to the first visit seeking diagnosis or treatment was 1.77 years. Individuals with a positive family history of dementia had longer duration (p= 0.05). Compared with other types of dementia, people with vascular dementia (VaD) were referred for diagnosis earliest, and the sequence for such delays was: VaD < Alzheimer's disease (AD) < frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (p< 0.001). Subtypes of dementia (p< 0.001), family history (p= 0.01), and education level (p= 0.03) were associated with the increased delay in help seeking.Conclusions:In China, seeking diagnosis for PWDs is delayed for approximately 2 years, even in well-established memory clinics. Clinical features, family history, and less education may impede help seeking in dementia care.



Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1573-1585
Author(s):  
Tarja Välimäki ◽  
Julia FM Gilmartin-Thomas ◽  
J Simon Bell ◽  
Tuomas Selander ◽  
Anne M Koivisto

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.



2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 159-161
Author(s):  
Flávia Araujo de Amorim ◽  
Mariana de Campos Pereira Giorgion ◽  
Orestes Vicente Forlenza




2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sandra Roberta Ridley

<p>Older patients with a cognitive deficit, such as seen in Alzheimer's Disease (AD), have not been extensively researched in ED. Often patients with AD are accompanied by a familiar person such as a family caregiver when they present to an acute care facility. Literature has shown that family caregivers' have reported dissatisfaction with interaction with healthcare professionals in inpatient settings. There is a paucity of research on the experiences family caregivers have in ED. This study explored the experiences of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease in the ED of a regional hospital in New Zealand. A Hermeneutic phenomenology method was used to bring meaning to the lived experience of family caregivers in the ED. Ricouers Interpretation theory was used to analyse and interpret the data. Six family caregivers were interviewed, using semi-structured interviews, to explore and give meaning to their experience. Findings revealed family caregivers were 'sidelined'; felt invisible, ignored and abandoned by the healthcare professionals in ED. There appeared to be little understanding about dementia symptoms, or the needs of caregivers of people with AD. The experience was distressing for participants who felt they were not able to relay information about their loved one that was pertinent to their health and presenting symptoms. Health Professionals tended to speak directly to their loved ones and not with the participants. Consequently there was a risk of misinformation and poor communication driving treatment decisions for these patients. Participants reported poor information giving and family caregivers were left for long periods of time with no contact, and no support. Despite this, caregivers justified and excused the actions of healthcare professionals. They became passive recipients of process and procedures that were not adequately explained.</p>



2001 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. P301-P313 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Neundorfer ◽  
M. J. McClendon ◽  
K. A. Smyth ◽  
J. C. Stuckey ◽  
M. E. Strauss ◽  
...  


2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Reuben ◽  
Carol P. Roth ◽  
Janet C. Frank ◽  
Susan H. Hirsch ◽  
Diane Katz ◽  
...  


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