Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia in Older Care-recipients on Their Family Caregivers’ Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life

Abstract

The psychological health and quality of life (QoL) of family caregivers, who are central to care provision for older adults, may be impacted by the diagnosis of dementia in their care-recipients. However, the relevant literature is largely limited to qualitative studies or Western contexts. Using longitudinal quantitative data from Singapore, a rapidly ageing Asian nation, we assess the change in family caregivers’ depressive symptoms and QoL following the diagnosis of dementia in their older care-recipients. Data of 263 caregivers and their care-recipients (≥75 years with functional limitations) was extracted from a four-wave longitudinal study. Based on caregivers’ report if the care-recipient had been ‘ever diagnosed’ (at baseline interview) or ‘diagnosed since previous interview’ (in follow-up interviews) with dementia, the sample was grouped into: (1) new diagnosis (n = 22), (2) existing diagnosis (n = 57) and (3) not diagnosed (n = 184). Caregiver depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale) and QoL (World Health Organization QoL scale; four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health) were measured at each wave. Across the three dementia diagnosis groups, caregivers in the ‘new diagnosis’ group had the highest depressive symptoms and lowest QoL (physical and psychological health domains) at their last available follow-up interview. Multivariable fixed-effect regression showed that caregivers exhibited a significant decline in QoL (psychological and environmental domains) following their care-recipients’ diagnosis of dementia. The detrimental psychological impact of the diagnosis of dementia in their care-recipients on family caregivers is also observed in Asian settings. Our findings emphasize the importance of support mechanisms for caregivers adapting to the diagnosis of dementia in their loved ones.