Differences in caregivers of demented and lucid chronically ill family members

Abstract

The relationship between social support, mood states, and burden was studied in 63 caregivers of chronically ill family members. These caregivers were categorized as providing care for either chronically ill demented or lucid family members. Contact was made with participating caregivers and their medical personnel so as to verify that reported illness did not overlap in both categories (e.g., AIDS with dementia). No differences were evident between caregivers of demented and lucid family members on age, gender, familial relationship, use of formal support, number of health problems or hours spent with the family member Caregivers of demented family members differ from caregivers of lucid chronically ill family members in the level of expressed emotional burden, and amount of revealed fatigue/inertia. However, differences between these caregivers were not evident on levels for time, social, developmental, or physical burden as measured by the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CRI); nor were differences evident on dimensions of tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility vigor activity, or confusion-bewilderment as measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS).