[Degree of tolerance among caregivers to the problems of their relatives with dementia].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the problems presented by the caregivers of people with dementia living at home and their degree of tolerance to these problems and identify which problems, if solved, would lead to the greatest relief.


METHODS
We performed a 6-month analytical study on the caregivers of patients with dementia admitted to a short-term geriatric unit. The variables gathered were patients' and caregivers' demographic data, time since onset of dementia, and Sanford's list of problems. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 12.0 package.


RESULTS
Eighty-two caregivers were interviewed. The mean age of the patients was 82.87 years (SD 5.94) and 61% were women. Time since onset was 3.47 years (SD 2.18). Caregivers' mean age was 65.71 years (SD 13.78) and 83% were women (51.2% daughters). The most frequent problems were urinary incontinence, inability to get dressed, and inability to wash unaided. The most frequent problems that, if solved, would lead to relief were inability to get out bed unaided, inability to get into bed unaided, lack of strength, and impossibility of leaving the patient alone for 1 hour. The most poorly tolerated problems were the impossibility of leaving the patient alone for 1 hour, inability to get into bed unaided, inability to get out bed unaided, nocturnal agitation, lack of strength, and dangerous behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
The most frequent problems were those related to dependency for basic activities of daily living. The most poorly tolerated problems were those requiring physical strength and behavioral problems.
Esteban Gimeno
Ana Belén
AB
Unidad de Media Estancia, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Zaragoza, España. anabelenestebangimeno@yahoo.es
Mesa Lampré
M Pilar
MP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies