Adult day service use and reductions in caregiving hours: effects on stress and psychological well-being for dementia caregivers

✍ Scribed by Joseph E. Gaugler; Shannon E. Jarrott; Steven H. Zarit; Mary-Ann Parris Stephens; Aloen Townsend; Rick Greene

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 76 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.772

✦ Synopsis

Background:

The objective of this study was to determine whether adult day service use interacts with decreases in primary caregiving hours (i.e. the time caregivers spent on activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living, memory problems, and behavior problems for patients) to alleviate caregiver stress and negative mental health over time.

Methods:

Three-month longitudinal data from the adult day care collaborative study (n=400) were used.

Results:

Decreases in memory problem hours among adult day service users were associated with reduced feelings of role overload; decreases in adl hours among non-users were associated with decreases in worry and strain over a three-month period.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that adult day services are potentially effective in restructuring caregiving time and providing respite to family members.