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Support Needs of Elderly Caregivers of Persons with Dementia*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Angela Colantonio ,
Carole Cohen  and
Sue Corlett
Angela Colantonio
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Carole Cohen
Affiliation:
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
Sue Corlett
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Abstract

The aim of this paper was (1) to document the extent to which elderly caregivers of persons with dementia engage in self-help/mutual aid activities such as groups and telephone support and (2) to document the extent to which non-users want to participate in this form of support. Caregivers aged 60 years of age and older were recruited from the Alzheimer's Society of Metropolitan Toronto Wandering Persons Registry. Data from telephone interviews (n = 84) from this multicultural sample showed that 21 per cent of subjects used support groups and 26 per cent of non attenders wanted to be part of a support group. Only 8 per cent of subjects utilized telephone support services yet 57 per cent of non-users wanted to use this service. We also report on other means of support such as use of computer networks and newsletters. The implications of this research for seniors will be discussed in light of these identified needs and barriers to participation.

Résumé

L'objet de cette étude était (1) de déterminer jusqu'à quel point les dispensateurs de soins âgés s'occupant de personnes atteintes de démence participent à des activités de soutien individuel (assistance téléphonique) ou de groupe, et (2) de déterminer jusqu'à quel point les non-participants souhaitent utiliser cette forme de soutien. On a recruté les dispensateurs de soins âgés de 60 ans et plus à partir du registre des personnes errantes de la Société Alzheimer du Toronto métropolitain. Les données provenant des entrevues téléphoniques (n = 84) parmi cet échantillonnage multiculturel ont indiqué que 21 pour cent des sujets ont utilisé les groupes de soutien et que 26 pour cent des non-participants souhaitaient faire partie d'un groupe de soutien. Seulement 8 pour cent des sujets ont utilisé les services d'assistance téléphonique même si 57 pour cent des non-utilisateurs voulaient avoir recours à ce service. Nous faisons également état d'autres moyens de soutien tels que les réseaux informatiques et les bulletins d'information. Les implications de cette étude pour les personnes âgées seront discutées à la lumière de ces besoins identifiés et des barrières à la participation.

Keywords

ElderlyCaregivingSelf-HelpDementiaPersonnes âgéesaideentraidedémence
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , Automne/Fall 1998 , pp. 330 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1998

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