Problems, Needs, and Burden of Care for Caregivers of Elderly People with Dementia

Abstract

Thailand has a growing trend of elderly people with dementia, resulting in caregivers facing burdens and various impacts, making it necessary to study data that reflects the burdens, problems, and needs of caregivers. Truly, this research aims to study the burdens, problems, and needs of caregivers for elderly individuals with dementia by using a mixed-methods approach in a parallel design, collecting data from June to December. Prof. In 2024, the primary informants were specifically selected, consisting of 15 primary caregivers who care for dementia patients and utilize services at the elderly clinic. The research instruments included a 12-item short version of the caregiver burden assessment, in-depth interviews based on semi-structured questions focusing on issues/obstacles and care needs, content validity assessed by three experts, and the reliability of the assessment tool measured by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which was 0.88. The data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and qualitatively through content analysis.

The research findings revealed that the caregiving burden of most caregivers was at a low level (M = 0.78 , SD = 0.71), particularly in terms of impact to life. However, some caregivers reported feelings of guilt, anxiety, and stress from continuous caregiving without assistance. Qualitative data revealed that the main issues caregivers face include emotional, time, economic, and healthcare access problems. The needs of caregivers encompass five main dimensions: Support from family, healthcare services, caregiver health, economy, and service coordination. The findings reflect the importance of supporting caregivers as they are also affected by dementia. Recommendation: There should be a continuous holistic care approach to empower and reduce the burden on caregivers in the long term.