This study reports findings from an evaluation of adult day care that are drawn from ANOVAs based on a comparative longitudinal design. To obtain a suitable outcome measure considering all relevant dimensions of caregiver stress, qualitative data from semistructured caregiving interviews were analyzed using content analytical techniques. Response scales were developed to assess the intensity of caregiving stress to allow for further statistical analyses. Results from the ANOVAs showed that use of day care significantly reduced conflicts between caregiving and job requirements, caregiving and family needs, and recreational constrictions. It is important to note that day care is effective in reducing specific, but not all, aspects of caregiving stress. For an adequate assessment of interventions meant to alleviate caregiving stress, the different dimensions of the concept must be considered.
Aneshensel, C. S., Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Zarit, S. H., & Whitlatch, C. J. (1995). Profiles in caregiving: The unexpected career. New York: Academic Press.
2.
Bortz, J. (1993). Statistik. Für Sozialwissenschaftler[Statistics for social scientists]. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
3.
Caserta, M. S., Lund, D., & Wright, S. (1996). Exploring the caregiver burden inventory (CBI): Further evidence for a multidimensional view of burden. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 43(1), 21-34.
4.
Cooke, D. D., McNally, L., Mulligan, K. T., Harrison, M. J. G., & Newman, S. P. (2001). Psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia: A systematic review. Aging & Mental Health, 5(2), 120-135.
5.
Czaja, S. J.,& Sharit, J. (2003). Practically relevant research: Capturing realworld environments and outcomes [Special issue]. The Gerontologist, 43, 9-18.
6.
Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., & McHugh, P. R. (1975). Mini Mental State: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 189-198.
7.
Kinney, J. M.,& Stephens, M. P. (1989). Caregiving Hassles Scale: Assessing the daily hassles of caring for a family member with dementia. The Gerontologist, 29, 328-332.
8.
Knight, B. G., Lutzky, S. M.,& Macofsky-Urban, F. (1993). Ameta-analytic reviewof interventions for caregiver distress: Recommendations for future research. The Gerontologist, 33, 240-248.
9.
Kosberg, J. I., Cairl, R. E.,& Keller, D. M. (1990). Components of burden: Interventive implications. The Gerontologist, 30, 236-242.
10.
Lawton, M. P., Brody, E. M.,& Saperstein, A. R. (1989). Acontrolled study of respite service for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. The Gerontologist, 29, 8-16.
11.
Lawton, M. P., Kleban, M. H., Moss, M., Rovine, M., & Glicksman, A. (1989). Measuring caregiving appraisal. Journal of Gerontology, 44, 61-71.
12.
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.
13.
Mayring, P. (1988). Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse: Grundlagen und Techniken[Qualitative content analysis: Basics and techniques]. Weinheim, Germany: Deutscher Studien Verlag.
14.
Montgomery, R. J. V., & Borgatta, E. F. (1989). The effects of alternative support strategies of family caregiving. The Gerontologist, 29, 457-464.
15.
Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J., & Skaff, M. M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist, 30, 583-594.
16.
Pillemer, K., Czaja, S., Schulz, R.,& Stahl, S. M. (2003). Finding the bestways to help: Opportunities and challenges of intervention research on aging [Special issue]. The Gerontologist, 43, 5-8.
17.
Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2003). Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: Ameta analysis. Psychology& Aging, 18(2), 250-267.
18.
Pusey, H.,& Richards, D. (2001). Asystematic reviewof the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for carers of people with dementia. Aging and Mental Health, 5, 107-119.
19.
Schacke, C. (2000). Die Entlastungsfunktion gerontopsychiatrischer Tagesstätten für die pflegenden Angehörigen der Besucher[The effectiveness of gerontopsychiatric day care as a means to alleviate caregiving stress]. Berlin, Germany: Mensch & Buch Verlag.
20.
Schulz, R., O'Brien, A. T., Bookwala, J., & Fleissner, K. (1995). Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of dementia caregiving: Prevalence, correlates, and causes. The Gerontologist, 35, 771-791.
21.
Schulz, R., O'Brien, A., Czaja, S., Ory, M., Norris, R., Martire, L. M., et al. (2002). Dementia caregiver intervention research: In search of clinical significance. The Gerontologist, 42, 589-602.
22.
Sörensen, S., Pinquart, M., & Duberstein P. (2002). How effective are interventions with caregivers? An updated meta-analysis. The Gerontologist, 42, 356-372.
23.
Toseland, R. W., & McCallion, P. (1997). Trends in caregiving intervention research. Social Work Research, 21(3), 154-164.
24.
Vitaliano, P. P., Young, H. M., & Russo, J. (1991). Burden: A review of measures used among caregivers of individuals with dementia. The Gerontologist, 31, 67-75.
25.
Zank, S. & Schacke, C. (2002). Evaluation of geriatric day care units: Effects on patients and caregivers. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences, 57(4), 348-357.
26.
Zank, S. & Schacke, C. (2003). Science is a matter of cumulative learning: Authors' reply to the commentary. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences, 58(3), 197-199.
27.
Zarit & Leitsch, S. A. (2001). Developing and evaluating community based intervention programs for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 5(1), 84-98.
28.
Zarit, S., Stephens, M. A. P., Townsend, A., & Femia, E. (2003). Give day care a chance to be effective. Acommentary. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences, 58(3), 195-196.
29.
Zarit, S. H., Stephens, A. P., Townsend, A.,& Greene, R. (1998). Stress reduction for family caregivers: Effect of adult day care use. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences, 53(5), 267-277.
30.
Zarit, S. H.,& Zarit, J. M. (1990). The Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist and the burden interview. University Park: Pennsylvania State University, Gerontology Center. (Original work published 1983)
