[Risk factors for heavy burden among family caregivers in a rural town in Hokkaido].
OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted in order to investigate risk factors for heavy burden of family caregivers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
51 pairs of the frail elderly and their family caregivers in one town in Hokkaido.


RESULTS
Compared to those with a lighter burden, family caregivers with heavier burden looked after the frail elderly with more behavior disturbances due to dementia. They cared for the elderly longer and had less time to go out without accompanying their charges than less burdened caregivers. On the other hand, the elderly had similar activities of daily living and degree of need of care between the two groups. In addition, physical caring time did not differ between the two groups. These findings suggest that the psychological burden may be more important than the physical burden. In addition, caregivers used only 30-40% of services they had the right to use with long-term care insurance. These findings suggest that more convenient services for users should be provided.
Washio
Masakazu
M
Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University.
Saitoh
Shigeyuki
S
Arai
Yumiko
Y
Takagi
Satoru
S
Oonishi
Hirofumi
H
Isobe
Takeshi
T
Takeuchi
Hiroshi
H
Oohata
Junichi
J
Mori
Mitsuru
M
Shimamoto
Kazuaki
K
D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007353:Insurance, Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013315:Stress, Psychological