The Relationship Between the Use of Adult Dementia Day Care and Caregiver Quality of Life

Abstract

Purpose To qualify the use of adult dementia day care services as an appropriate respite opportunity to improve the quality of life of the caregiver. Design and Methods Thirty familial caregivers from the Alzheimer's Association were recruited and divided into three groups based on number of days of use of day care services (non-use, 1–2 day use, and 3–5 day use). Survey data was self-report and measured using scores from the Evaluations Scale of Caregiver's Quality of Life. Quantitative results from the 20-item questionnaire were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests. Results The analysis showed statistically significant difference in the perception of burden for the group using day care 1–2 days per week than those that did not use the service at all. These findings were not seen in the group using the services 3–5 days per week. Implications Results lead toward the use of an adult day care program attended 3–5 days a week, incorporation of a support group with day care services, and the implementation of a structured home program for all participants to reduce caregiver level of burden.