Caregiver psychological characteristics predict discontinuation of care for disabled elderly at home

Abstract

This study sought to determine the predictors of discontinuation of care for the disabled elderly at home using multivariate regression analysis. In January to February 2005, using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected from 193 caregivers of frail elderly listed on a roster for utilization of day service or short stay service from two Home Visit Nursing Care Stations. Family caregivers were defined as co-resident family members who provided a minimum of 1 h of daily care for at least 3 months. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to detect predictors of a discontinuation for the disabled elderly at home. The mean age of caregivers was around 59.0 years, accounting for about 80% of the women among caregivers. Of those caregivers, the proportion of desire to institutionalization (high DI) (56.8%) was higher than that of desire to care at home (low DI) (43.2%). Among the following three factors selected by multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, the strength of the relationship was stronger in frequent mood swings and irritability as carerecipient characteristic (adjusted OR = 5.93; 95% CI, 2.09-16.8) than in no advanced or skilled care (adjusted OR = 3.13; 95% CI, 1.41-7.14) and a high caregiver burden (adjusted OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.23) as caregiver's one. Our results suggest that the carerecipients' psychological characteristics may be more strongly related to the decision to continue care for disabled elderly at home than that of the caregivers'.