Carers for older people with co-morbid cognitive impairment in general hospital: characteristics and psychological well-being

Tools

Bradshaw, Lucy E., Goldberg, Sarah E., Schneider, Justine M. and Harwood, Rowan H. (2012) Carers for older people with co-morbid cognitive impairment in general hospital: characteristics and psychological well-being. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28 (7). pp. 681-690. ISSN 0885-6230

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This analysis sought to describe the characteristics and well-being of carers of older people with mental health problems admitted to a general hospital.

METHODS:

General medical and trauma orthopaedic patients aged 70 years or older admitted to an acute general teaching hospital were screened for mental health problems. Those screened positive, together with a carer, were invited to undergo further assessment with a battery of health status measurements. Carers were interviewed to ascertain strain (caregiver strain index (CSI)), psychological distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire) and quality of life (EQ-5D).

RESULTS:

We recruited 250 patients to the study, of whom 180 were cognitively impaired and had carers willing to take part. After 6 months, 57 patients (32%) had died, and we followed up 100 carers. Carers' own health, in terms of mobility, usual activities, and anxiety, was poor in a third of cases. At the time of admission, high carer strain was common (42% with CSI ≥ 7), particularly among co-resident carers (55%). High levels of behavioural and psychiatric symptoms at baseline were associated with more carer strain and distress. At follow-up, carer strain and distress had reduced only slightly, with no difference in outcomes for carers of patients who moved from the community to a care home.

CONCLUSION:

Hospital staff should be alert to sources of carer strain and offer carers practical advice and emotional support. Interventions are required to prevent and manage behavioural and psychiatric symptoms at the time of acute physical illness or to alleviate their effects on carers.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/711057
Keywords: Carers, Older person, Mental health, General hospital
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.3871
Depositing User: Wahid, Ms. Haleema
Date Deposited: 16 Apr 2014 09:34
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 16:33
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/2381

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View