A Study on Fatigue of Caregivers of the Frail Elderly Living at Home, Using Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index(CFSI).

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the degree of mental and physical fatigue and the related factors in 70 caregivers of the frail elderly who received home care services in Shizuoka City, Japan, using a Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index (CFSI) and compared them with age-adjusted con trol group of 126 women living with healthy elderly relatives aged 65 and older. The subjects were subdivided into two groups (less than 60 years of age, and older). The following results were obtained: 1) The CFSIs for chronic tiredness, general fatigue, physical disorders, anxiety, depressive feeling, irritability, and decreased vitality were higher in the caregivers than in the control subjects of both age groups. 2) Fatigue of the caregivers, particularly those aged 60 or over, was chiefly due to chronic tiredness and mental fatigue. 3) According to multiple regression analysis, factors related to the CFSIs of the caregivers were closely associated with inadequate sleep duration and poor health. It has been suggested that use of visiting nurse service and home-help service for 24 hours are necessary to relieve the caregivers from fatigue and to enable them to take enough sleep, and that day services are effective to guarantee caregivers' personal health and well-being.