Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify essential information and support needs of family caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and to examine the relationship between caregiver characteristics and needs. Caregivers (n=128, response rate=49.4%) returned a survey detailing information needs, support needs, and personal information. The need for information concerning diagnosis/treatment and legal/financial issues was more important than general information about the disease. Specifically, information about health plan coverage was most important. Experienced caregivers also needed legal/financial information, as well as support. Female caregivers rated needs related to support as significantly more important than male caregivers. Practitioners should realize that caregivers may have different information and support needs and these needs may change throughout the caregiving experience.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 95-100 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Patient Education and Counseling |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2002 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by a Pilot Grant from the University of Kentucky. We would like to thank Marie Smart, of the Sanders–Brown Center on Aging and the Memory Disorders Clinic affiliated with the ADRC at the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Clinic, and Tanya Tincher and Robin Hamon Kern, of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Lexington/Bluegrass Chapter, for their assistance in subject recruitment. We gratefully acknowledge Megan E. Streams and Melissa K. Smith for their assistance in manuscript preparation.
Keywords
- Family caregiving
- Information needs
- Support needs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (all)