Level of mental impairment in the Jamaican elderly and the issues of screening levels, caregiving, support systems, carepersons, and female burden.
Jamaica, although a developing country, has an aging population and is facing the many issues confronting aging. A community-based study using the Folstein minimental screening tool identified 2.3% of the over-60 population as severely impaired and 11.8% as questionable. The family was identified as the main source of support, and female relatives the main carepersons. Mentally impaired persons were less likely than physically impaired persons not to have a support system or careperson needed.
Eldemire
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Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, U.W.I., Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D014930:Women