Elderly Caregivers Research Articles

Understanding caregiver burden from multiple perspectives: dyadic agreement between caregiver and care recipient.

Caregiver burden (CB) is typically self-assessed by caregivers. However, an emerging concept is assessment of CB by the recipients of care, i.e., the patient. The specific objectives are (1) to assess the level of agreement between care recipients' and caregivers' view on CB, across financial, physical, emotional, and social domains; (2) to explore two care recipient perspectives: their self-perceived burden (CR-SPB), and their interpretation of the caregiver's view (Proxy-CB). Data were collected from 504 caregiver-care recipient dyads in the U.S. using an online Qualtrics panel. The survey assessed caregiver burden using CarerQol and newly developed items. The level of agreement between responses was quantified using weighted kappa (κ) coefficients for individual items and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for index/summary scores. The average age of caregivers was 49.2years, and 62.7years for care recipients. Dyads most commonly consisted of spouses/partners (34.5%); 68.3% lived together. Proxy-CB aligned more closely with caregiver's view, with moderate to substantial agreement across CB domains (fromκ = 0.48 for emotional to κ = 0.66 for financial). In the same perspective, the CarerQol-7D Index showed moderate agreement (ICC = 0.58) and the summary score of CB items substantial agreement (ICC = 0.76). Care recipients generally overestimated CB in the Proxy-CB perspective, while they underestimated it in the CR-SPB perspective. Results demonstrate there is a difference between perspectives. Strong agreement in Proxy-CB perspective suggests that care recipients can potentially substitute for caregivers depending on the domain. CR-SPB agrees less with caregivers and may provide complementary information.

A qualitative perspective of working women care providers and care receivers on eldercare: a study from India

BackgroundThe paper aims to explore the elderly caregiving process in India from the perspective of both elderly as well as working women care providers, along with the challenges faced and the coping strategies adopted by them during the process.MethodsIn-depth interviews with 48 participants (care providers and care receivers) from 25 multi-generational households were conducted in the slums of Mumbai and analysed using QSR-NVivo-10.ResultsWorking women care providers supported the needs of the dependent elderly along with performing household chores and paid work. However, the way the care was perceived and demanded, was not often same as delivered by the care providers. Care provider suffered silently with poor social, physical and emotional welling in absence of support system and lack of time. Sometimes, physically exhausted care providers unknowingly resorted to elderly abuse and neglect. At the same time, a bidirectional flow of support from elderly also existed in the form of childcare, household chores and financial support. Though caregiving overstrained the care providers, strong family ties, acknowledgement of the contributions of the elderly during their young days, and the desire to set a precedent for the young generation did not let them step back from their duties. The main coping mechanism for both care receivers and providers was largely centred around the notion of acceptance of their situation.ConclusionConversations between generations can help in enhancing family ties and reduce conflicts. The support of family and community can also ease the burden of caregiving.

Prevalence of and factors associated with zero-dose and under-immunized children in selected areas of Bangladesh: Findings from Lot Quality Assurance Sampling Survey

BackgroundIn the era of Gavi’s 5.0 vision of “leaving no one behind with immunization”, childhood routine vaccination in missed communities is considered as a priority concern. Despite having a success story at the national level, low uptake of immunization is still persistent in selected pocket areas of Bangladesh. However, prevalence and the associated factors of zero-dose (ZD) and under-immunization (UI) are still unknown at those geo-pockets of Bangladesh. Thus, the study aims to report and identify the factors associated with ZD and UI in selected geographical locations. MethodsThis study used data from a Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) survey where 504 households from 18 clusters of four hard to reach (HTR) and one urban slum were included. Caregivers of children aged 4.5 to 23 months were interviewed. Three outcome variables- ZD, UI and ZD/UI were considered and several related attributes were considered as independent variables. Data were analyzed through bivariate analysis, binary logistic regression and dominance analysis. ResultsOverall, 32% of the children were either ZD (8%) or UI (26%) in the selected areas. The adjusted odds of ZD/UI for urban slum and haor (wetlands) areas were 5.62 and 3.61 respectively considering coastal areas as reference. However, distance of nearest EPI center, availability of EPI card, age of caregivers, education and occupation of mother and number of earning members in household were influential factors for ZD/UI. According to dominance analysis, availability of EPI card can explain the most of the variation of ZD/UI in this study. ConclusionThe study findings highlight the high prevalence ZD/UI in certain geo-pockets of the country. It provided a powerful insight of current situation and associated factors in regards to ZD/UI in the country which will help policy-makers and programme managers in designing programmes to reduce missed communities in Bangladesh.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Successful Aging in Southern Africa: Socio-Theological Gerontology

Abstract The demographic landscape in Southern Africa is experiencing a shift toward an older age group, and traditional family structures are being influenced by factors such as rural – urban migration and industrialization. This article examines the socioeconomic determinants of successful aging in Southern Africa, with a focus on the intersection of socioeconomic factors and theological perspectives on aging. It utilizes data collected in a 2018–2019 study that explored pastoral care for elderly caregivers of HIV and AIDS-affected children in Ramotswa, Botswana. The article employs a socio-theological gerontology framework to understand how socioeconomic determinants can support or hinder successful aging in the region. It emphasizes the importance of integrating contextual factors and intrapersonal aspects in addressing the aging phenomenon and provides recommendations for contextually informed policies and practices.

"There's So Much That They're Enduring": Experiences of Older Adults Undergoing Major Elective Surgery.

This qualitative study aimed to explore the psychosocial experience of older adults undergoing major elective surgery from the perspective of both the patient and family caregiver. Older adults face unique psychological and social vulnerabilities that can increase susceptibility to poor health outcomes. How these vulnerabilities influence surgical treatment and recovery is understudied in the geriatric surgical population. Adults aged 65 and older undergoing a high-risk major elective surgery at the University of California, San Francisco and their caregivers were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at three time points: 1-2 weeks before surgery, and at 1- and 3-months following surgery. An inductive qualitative approach was used to identify underlying themes. Twenty-five older adult patients (age range 65-82 years, 60% male) and 11 caregivers (age range 53-78 years, 82% female) participated. Three themes were identified. First, older surgical patients experienced significant challenges to emotional well-being both before and after surgery, which had a negative impact on recovery. Second, older adults relied on a combination of personal and social resources to navigate these challenges. Lastly, both patients and caregivers desired more resources from the healthcare system to address "the emotional piece" of surgical treatment and recovery. Older adults and their caregivers described multiple overlapping challenges to emotional well-being that spanned the course of the perioperative period. Our findings highlight a critical component of perioperative care with significant implications for the recovery of older surgical patients.

Differential effects of gender and ethnicity on children’s receptive language scores after a Canadian two-generation preschool program: follow-up to adolescence

ABSTRACT Preschool programs for socially vulnerable children are believed to affect school readiness and language development but infrequently include follow-up to adolescence; observational measurement of receptive vocabulary is rare. The purpose of this longitudinal cohort study (55 children and 41 parents) was to report the trajectory of receptive vocabulary development for socially vulnerable children of diverse ethnicities (Indigenous, other Canadian-born, and Immigrant) who participated in a two-generation preschool program. English receptive vocabulary scores were measured at 5-time points: (a) program intake, (b) program exit, (c) age 7 years, (d) age 10 years, and (e) adolescence, using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test – Third Edition (PPVT-III). For all children, PPVT-III scores increased the most between program intake and exit and positive changes were sustained until adolescence. When the sample was examined by gender, PPVT-III scores were higher for boys than girls at all time points. When the sample was examined by ethnicity, other Canadian-born children scored higher than Indigenous and Immigrant children at all time points. Immigrant children scored lowest until age 7 years, and at age 10 years and adolescence scored higher than Indigenous children. Using mixed-effects modeling, PPVT-III scores increased when English was the primary language spoken at home at intake. PPVT-III scores increased slightly as caregiver age and caregiver Adverse Childhood Experiences score increased. PPVT-III scores were lower for Immigrant girls and Indigenous boys than other sub-groups of children. Differential effects of the two-generation preschool program by gender and ethnicity suggest tailoring programming to increase equitability of receptive vocabulary development for immigrant girls and Indigenous boys. Children with intergenerational adversity may require additional support.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Caregiving Burden and Psychological Flexibility in Caregivers of Elderly With Alzheimer's Disease

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Caregiving Burden and Psychological Flexibility in Caregivers of Elderly With Alzheimer's Disease

Determinants of Full Vaccination Status Among Children Aged 12 to 23 Months in Calabar South, Cross River State, Nigeria

Background: Childhood immunization remains one of the most cost-effective preventive strategies against mortality and morbidity among children. The study sought to identify determinants of full vaccination status among children aged 12 to 23 months in Calabar South LGA, Cross River State. The study was a community-based cross-sectional study among 460 children in the 12 to 23 months age bracket, and information about them was obtained from their caregivers. The sample size of 460 was calculated using the Cochran formula. The study is a quantitative component of a bigger mixed-method study conducted from October to December 2023 among 5 wards selected from the 12 wards in Calabar South through a 2-stage cluster sampling. SPSS was used for data entry and analysis, and ethical approval was obtained from the CRS ethical committee (CRSMOH/RP/HREC/2023/401). The prevalence of full vaccination was presented as a pie chart. Bivariate analysis was carried out using Chi-square test statistics while significant variables at 5% were subjected to multivariable regression to identify independent determinants of full vaccination at a 95% confidence interval. The proportion with full vaccination status was 67%, factors associated with full vaccination included the child's sex/age, caregiver's age, education, occupation, relationship to the child, knowledge, and attitude towards vaccination. Independent determinants of full vaccination included caregivers' age, education, occupation, knowledge, attitude, and the occurrence of missed opportunities. Understanding these variations is crucial for policymakers and healthcare professionals to tailor interventions effectively, addressing region-specific challenges and enhancing overall vaccination coverage.

Comparison of the EQ-HWB and EQ-HWB-S With Other Preference-Based Measures Among United States Informal Caregivers

ObjectivesSeveral measures have been used or developed to capture the health and well-being of caregivers, including the EQ Health and Well-being (EQ-HWB) and its short form, EQ-HWB-S. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and construct validity of the EQ-HWB/EQ-HWB-S in a US caregiver population. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 504 caregivers. Eligible participants were 18+ years old, provided unpaid care to a relative/friend aged 18+ in the past 6 months, and spent on average of at least 1 hour per week caregiving. Survey included the following measures: EQ-HWB, Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit for Carers-Carer, CarerQol, and EQ-5D-5L. Psychometric properties were assessed using response distributions, floor/ceiling effects, Spearman’s correlation for convergent validity, and effect sizes (ES) for known-group validity based on caregiving situations and intensity. ResultsThe average age of caregivers was 49.2 (SD = 15.4), with 57.5% being female. More than half (54.4%) reported high caregiving intensity, and 68.3% lived with the care recipient. The EQ-HWB-S index showed a strong positive correlation with the EQ-5D-5L (rs = 0.72), Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit for Carers (rs = 0.54), and CarerQol (rs = 0.54) indices. Notably, the EQ-HWB-S index showed the largest ES among measures in differentiating caregiving scenarios with a large ES for caregiver’s general health (d = 1.00) and small ES for caregiving intensity (d = 0.39). ConclusionsResults support construct validity of EQ-HWB and EQ-HWB-S as measures for assessing health and well-being of adult informal caregivers in comparison with other validated instruments. Differing levels of known-group validity across anchors emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate measures for caregivers, depending on research question and/or intervention aims.

Experiences of menstrual restrictions: Freedom lost and never regained

Among numerous issues that make experiences during menstruation an impediment to gender equity, restrictions on daily activities is a concern about limiting individual freedom. Studies of menstrual restrictions have identified the arrays of “dos-and-don'ts”, but what remained missing was a detailed exploration into its origin, nature, correlates and the reasons behind their uncanny consistency over time. This paper, using primary survey of 1200 married young adults in two eastern states in India, adds to the existing literature by identifying the nature of restrictions, the changes in its contour with marriage and their internalization. Classifying restrictions in three broad categories, (restrictions on self, restrictions over household activities and restrictions over worship), the paper finds that nearly all woman are barred from performing rituals. While marriage increases the restrictions on women's agency to eat, go out, sleep in usual home or have sexual activities, it reduces the restrictions on household chores (cooking, serving). Strikingly, restrictions on herself do not alter with education or menstrual literacy. However, fitting logistic regression models over subsamples of hygienic menstrual product-users, finds restrictions are higher for backward classes and those who incorrectly define menstruation. Astonishingly, women do not find menstrual restrictions to be subduing and is reluctant in aspiring for changing community's perception, letting this thrive through generations. They only aspire for better menstrual products. This study shows that a holistic policy should target ‘changing perceptions’ rather than ‘changing protections’, to usher in a menstrual experience with freedom. Educating girls and their elderly care-givers (mothers, grandmothers or mothers-in-law) about this physiological process, giving them a space to discuss and fight the concept of impurity of their bodies can actually gift them a better living experience for sure.

Incidence and predictors of virological failure among children receiving first-line anti-retroviral treatment in public comprehensive specialized hospitals found in Northeast Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study.

Despite anti-retroviral treatment coverage in resource-limited countries being highly appreciated, the occurrence of first-line virological failure remains a priority agenda. Therefore, this study serves as an input for evidence of virological failure among children. This study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of virological failure among children receiving first-line anti-retroviral treatment in public comprehensive specialized hospitals found in Northeast Ethiopia through a retrospective follow-up study. A multicenter institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted on the medical records of 481 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children who were on first-line anti-retroviral therapy from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. Data were retrieved from 15 May to 15 June 2022 at three public comprehensive specialized hospitals. Study participants were recruited using a simple random sampling technique. STATA-14 was used to analyze the data, which was entered using EpiData version 4.6.2.0. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to estimate the survival. Both bivariable and multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to identify predictors. Finally, adjusted hazards ratios (AHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed, and variables with a P-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of virological failure. A total of 481 children records were included in the final analysis, with an observed follow-up period of 16,379 person-months. Among these, 60 (12.47%) had developed virological failure, resulting in an overall incidence density rate of 3.67 (95% CI; 2.84, 4.73) per 1000 person-month observations. The hazards of virological failure (VF) among children were found to be increased by being in recent WHO stages III and IV (AHR = 3.688; 95% CI: 1.449-6.388), poor adherence to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) (AHR = 3.506; 95% CI: 1.711-7.234), and living in a rural environment (AHR = 5.013; 95% CI: 1.958-8.351). Conversely, the hazard of VF was reduced by 60% when the age of caregivers was less than 40 years (AHR = 0.405; 0.003-0.449). The incidence rate of virological failure was relatively high. Living in a rural area, poor adherence to ART, being in a recent advanced WHO clinical stage, and having a caregiver of 40 years of age or older were all independent predictors of virological failure in children. Patients or parents (caregivers) need to be aware of the importance of strictly adhering to treatment regimens to prevent virological failure.

Exploring Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease and HIV: A Comparative Analysis.

Paediatric HIV and sickle cell disease (SCD) are two stigmatising and potentially fatal illnesses that place a significant burden on families. HIV patients benefit from a longstanding free-service national programme in Cameroon, and this could considerably alleviate burden of care on HIV caregivers, possibly leading to better quality of life (QoL) in HIV caregivers compared to SCD caregivers. Our study aimed to compare the QoL between caregivers of children and adolescents with SCD and HIV and explore factors associated with this QoL in Cameroon. We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional analytic study at Douala Laquintinie Hospital from February to May 2023. A questionnaire was administered to caregivers of paediatric patients (≤18 years) with SCD and HIV. The Pediatrics Quality of Life-Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and the 9-item Patient Health Question (PHQ-9) tools were used as measures of quality of life, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine factors associated with quality of life. A significance level was set at p < 0.05. We included 199 caregivers: SCD = 104 and HIV = 95. The mean age of caregivers in our sample was 40.47 ± 10.18 years. Caregivers of paediatric patients with HIV had a better mean quality of life than SCD (93.01 ± 7.35SD versus 64.86 ± 9.20SD, p < 0.001). PHQ-9 score (B = -1.52, 95% CI = [-2.08; -0.96], p=<0.001), GAD-7 score (B = -1.46, 95% CI = [-2.09; -0.83], p=<0.001), spending less than 75 000 FCFA on medications monthly (B = 12.13, 95% CI = [5.73; 18.94], p=<0.001), and being a SCD caregiver (B = -11.62, 95% CI = [-18.46; -4.78], p=0.001) were factors independently associated with quality of life on multivariable analysis. Quality of life is lower in caregivers of children and adolescents with SCD than with HIV. Preventing depression and anxiety as well as advocating for the subsidization of medications through a national SCD program may improve quality of life in SCD caregivers.

A cross-sectional study: caregiver burden and related determinants of adult patients with β-thalassemia major in mainland China

BackgroundThe informal caregivers of adult patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) bear not only physical but also emotional and economic pressures of providing care. This study is the first to evaluate the caregiver burden by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) of adult patients with β-TM in mainland China and to identify predictors of caregiver burden.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we conducted an online survey with snowball sampling covering seven provinces between September 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, of patients aged ≥ 18 years with β-TM and their informal caregivers. Caregiver burden was assessed using the ZBI. Data on patient demographics, disease and therapy characteristics, and informal caregivers’ demographic characteristics were collected and analysed using independent t-tests, analysis of variance, Spearman’s correlation and multiple linear regression.ResultsOf 75 included patients, more than half (50.7%) were male. The mean patient age was 24.69 ± 5.59 years. The mean age of the informal caregivers was 50.60 ± 9.16 years, with women (74.7%) being predominant. The ZBI score was 38.00 ± 17.02. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that patients with interrupted blood transfusion therapy and informal caregivers required to care of others were positively associated with caregiver burden (p < 0.05). Age of informal caregivers were borderline significant positively associated with caregiver burden (p < 0.1). Married informal caregivers were negatively associated with caregiver burden (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe informal caregivers of adult patients with β-TM in mainland China experienced a moderate-to-severe level of caregiving burden. The caregiver burden was higher in patients with a history of interrupted blood transfusion therapy or in informal caregivers who were older or needed to care for others. Additionally, married informal caregivers experienced lower burdens compared to non-married informal caregivers. These findings provide a reference to identify informal caregivers with higher burdens among patients with β-TM.

Factors Related to Treatment Non-Adherence Among Caregivers of Pediatric and Adolescent Growth Hormone Deficiency Patients in Japan.

About one-third of caregivers of pediatric or adolescent growth hormone deficiency (pGHD) patients in Japan have reported poor treatment adherence. However, few studies have examined factors related to adherence for that group. The aim of this study is to consider factors related to poor adherence to daily treatment among caregivers of pGHD patients in Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among caregivers of pGHD patients in Japan. Caregivers were asked about demographic and treatment characteristics, health literacy, treatment satisfaction, opinions about treatment, and treatment adherence. Health literacy was assessed using the 14-item health literacy scale (HLS-14). Adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Statistical association with adherence was considered using Chi-square and Student's t-testing. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and K-means cluster analysis was conducted to consider the influence of treatment satisfaction and opinions concerning treatment on adherence. Responses were collected from 112 caregivers. The caregiver's age being 30-39 years old, the primary caregiver being male, the primary caregiver being employed, and low functional health literacy for the caregiver were associated with poor adherence. Patients being pre-elementary school age was also associated with poor adherence. Low satisfaction with drug treatment and/or their device and communication with healthcare professionals (HCPs), and lack of agreement with the importance of treatment management (eg, keeping injection records, getting informed about the disease/therapy, reporting non-adherence, and sticking to an administration schedule), were also associated with poor adherence. Strategies to improve treatment adherence among caregivers of pGHD patients in Japan should consider the age, gender, and employment status of the caregiver - as well as their functional literacy. Improvement in satisfaction with the drug or device used, better communication with HCPs, and greater awareness of the importance of treatment management, may also lead to better adherence.

Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Rivers State, Nigeria

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurologic disorder which leads to physical disability in children. Children with CP require more care and attention from their care givers. Hence the quality of life (QoL) of the care givers can be adversely affected.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the QoL and its determinants among caregivers of children with CP in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Using a convenience sampling method, a hospital based cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out, participants were 96 caregivers of children on follow up for CP. The English Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) was used to evaluate the QoL of the participants. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristic of the participants and children with CP, while the patients hospital record was used to obtain the medical history of the patients. The functional disability level of the child was measured by the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS levels I-V) scale. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to determine the predictors of the care givers QoL on all four domains of the WHOQOL-Bref.&#x0D; Results: The age of the participant ranged from 23 -58 years with a mean age of 37.67± 8.27 years. Seventy-eight (81.3%) were females, 77(80.0%) had secondary education and above while 56 (58.3%) of the patients had co-morbidity. The care givers had lower level of QoL &lt; 60 points in all domains except for Physical Health Domain which had mean point of 61.3.&#x0D; The GMFCS level of the patients with CP and the marital status of the caregivers significantly determined the different domains of the caregivers QoL (p ≤ 0.05). Age of care giver (p 0.00), presence of comorbidity (0.03) significantly predicted the psychological domain of the QoL of the care givers. In addition, the socioeconomic class significantly predicted the environment and psychological domains of the caregivers QoL. (p &lt; 0.05)&#x0D; Conclusion: The quality of life in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy is low. The predictors include GMFCS level of the patient, age of the care giver, marital status, presence of comorbidity and socioeconomic status. The treatment of CP should include strategies to enhance the health and quality of life of caregivers of children with the condition.

Supportive care needs and associated factors among caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer: a cross-sectional study

To assess the level of supportive care needs of caregivers of colorectal cancer patients and explore the related key influencing factors. Totaling 283 caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer were investigated in this study. Firstly, caregivers were invited to complete a set of questionnaires, including the general information questionnaire, the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners and the Caregivers of cancer patients, the Caregiver Preparedness Scale, the Benefit Finding Scale, and the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were performed to investigate the associated factors of supportive care needs. The caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer have a moderate level of needs, scored at 2.71 ± 0.42. Caregiver preparedness, benefit finding, and financial toxicity were significantly negatively associated with the supportive care needs of caregivers (r = − 0.555, P < 0.001; r = − 0.534, P < 0.001; and r = − 0.615, P < 0.001, respectively). Our multivariate regression analysis identified some factors that directly affected the supportive care needs of caregivers, including the duration of illness, tumor stage, the age and educational level of caregivers, caregiver preparedness, benefit finding, and financial toxicity (R2 = 0.574, F = 23.337, P < 0.001). Supportive care needs are common among caregivers of colorectal cancer patients. Higher caregiver preparedness, benefit finding, and financial toxicity tend to ease these needs. Healthcare workers should have an in-depth understanding of the needs of caregivers of colorectal cancer patients and actively provide targeted financial/informational/technical/emotional support to promote nursing skills and reduce caregivers’ burdens.

Caregiver burden and health-related quality of life: A study of informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana.

Similar to many developing countries, caregiver burden remains high in Ghana which may affect informal caregivers of older adults' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, no study has examined the association between caregiver burden and HRQoL among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghanato date. Understanding this association may well help to inform health and social policy measures to improve HRQoL among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana. Situated within a conceptual model of HRQoL, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between caregiver burden and HRQoL among informal caregivers of older adults in Ghana. We obtained cross-sectional data from informal caregiving, health, and healthcare (N = 1853) survey conducted between July and September 2022 among caregivers (≥ 18 years) of older adults (≥ 50years)inthe Ashanti Region of Ghana. The World Health Organization Impact of Caregiving Scale was usedto measure caregiver burden. An 8-item short form Health Survey scale developed by the RAND Corporation and the Medical Outcomes Study was used to measure HRQoL. Generalized Linear Models were employed to estimate the association between caregiver burden and HRQoL. Beta values and standard errors were reported with a significance level of 0.05 or less. The mean age of the informal caregivers was 39.15years and that of the care recipients was 75.08years. In our final model, the results showed that caregiver burden was negatively associated with HRQoL (β = - .286, SE = .0123, p value = 0.001). In line with the conceptual model of HRQoL, we also found that socio-economic, cultural, demographic and healthcare factors were significantly associated with HRQoL. For instance, participants withno formal education (β = -1.204, SE=.4085, p value =0.01), those withprimary level of education (β = -2.390, SE=.5099, p value =0.001) orjunior high school education (β = -1.113, SE=.3903, p value= 0.01) hada significantly decreased HRQoLcompared to those with tertiary level of education. Participants who werebetween the ages of 18-24 (β = 2.960, SE=.6306, p value=0.001), 25-34 (β = 1.728, SE=.5794, p value=0.01) or 35-44 (β = 1.604, SE=.5764, p value= 0.01) years significantly had increased HRQoLcompared to those who were 65 years or above. Also, participants who did not utilize healthcare services in the pastyear before the survey significantly had increased HRQoLcompared to those who utilized healthcare services five or more times in the pastyear (β = 4.786, SE=. 4610, p value=0.001). Consistent with our hypothesis, this study reported asignificant negativeassociation between caregiver burden and HRQoL. Our findings partially support the conceptual model of HRQoLused in this study. We recommend that health and social policy measures to improve HRQoL among informal caregivers of older adultsshould consider caregiver burden as well as other significant socio-economic, cultural, demographic, and healthcare factors.

PREVALENCE OF DEATHS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME IN THE NORTHEAST REGION

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the immune system caused by the retrovirus HIV ― from English, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the present study aims to analyze the prevalence and cases of AIDS deaths in the elderly population in the Northeastern state, from 2015 to 2019. This is a descriptive study obtained from the Health Information System provided by TABNET, referring to elderly people with HIV/AIDS, who were notified in the northeast region in the period from 2015 to 2017. Thus, in the years 2015 and 2017, there were 76 deaths from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) reported in the Northeast region of Brazil. Of these, 22 cases of deaths were related to the elderly population of Bahia, and the State of Alagoas had the lowest number, just 2 deaths. Regarding AIDS cases identified in the Northeast state, from 2015 to 2019, 1,204 cases of AIDS were reported. Absolutely, the states that reported the most were Bahia (233 cases), Pernambuco (224 cases), Maranhão (190 cases) and Ceará (185 cases). Based on above considerations, prevention campaigns aimed only at the elderly population, health professionals and caregivers unprepared are necessary to provide information regarding sexuality and sexual practices for elderly people in the Federative Units and regions.

Perceived loss of support to community caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Coronavirusdisease (COVID-19) had a negative impact on the health and well-being of community caregivers. Few studies examine the pandemic's negative impact on the availability of social networks of caregivers. This article uses data collected during COVID-19 before vaccination to examine caregivers' reports of perceived lost and reduced network support. We assessed the personal networks of a nationally representative sample of 2214 community caregivers in the United States. We analyzed associations between caregiving factors and caregivers' perceptions of lost and reduced network support. Changes in care recipient living circumstances during COVID-19, longer-term caregiving, care recipient hearing/vision/mobility problems, caregiver travel/socializing restrictions, caregiver race/ethnicity, caregiver income, caregiver age, network connectivity, family relationships, and network members' age were associated with perceived lost/reduced support during the pandemic. Findings provide insights for the development of social network interventions to support caregivers and help them cultivate support networks resilient to public health crises.

Identifying the essential features of an eldercare software platform through analyzing caregiver surveys conducted in Bulgaria

Population aging is a global challenge, exacerbated by two main issues. Firstly, there is a significant increase in the number of elderly adults, and secondly, there is a notable decrease in qualified staff available to care for retirees. In recent years, European countries have responded by raising the retirement age, but this only offers a partial and temporary solution. Training qualified personnel is an alternative, yet it's a lengthy and costly endeavor. Enhancing staff efficiency through improved qualifications is crucial, but as mentioned, it's time-consuming. A key strategy in optimizing the work of elderly caregivers is the large-scale digitization of their activities. To do this effectively, a thorough understanding of the daily needs and challenges faced by caregivers is essential. This understanding can be gleaned from a carefully structured questionnaire, comprising three questions divided into four categories, each encompassing specific predefined needs and challenges. These were evaluated by respondents, with their scores subsequently aggregated and normalized. From these normalized values, we can derive the critical functions needed for a software platform dedicated to digitizing social workers' tasks.