title: Information needs and sources of family caregivers of home elderly patients.
abstract: Meeting the information needs of family caregivers in a timely and appropriate way is a key concern of home care. The present study aimed to explore the following two areas: (a) the priority information needs and sources of family caregivers of home elderly patients and (b) the differences in information needs according to severity of dementia. The subjects were 475 family caregivers of home elderly patients residing in Nagoya city. Data was collected through questionnaires. Severity of dementia was evaluated according to the criteria of the public long-term care insurance policy (levels 0-5). The top 3 items they perceived as of most concern were dementia, first aid, and available public long-term care insurance services. A few respondents felt the need for information on public long-term care insurance services. Nearly half of the caregivers were interested in food and nutrition. The respondents were more likely to receive information from their care managers or physicians than any other source. Caregivers of elderly dependents with severe dementia reported a greater need for information on the spread of dementia, dementia-specific care, or the negative effects of dementia on family and neighborhood. Our results provide useful information on how family caregivers should be educated.
authors.affiliation: Center for Postgraduate Clinical Training and Career Development, Nagoya University Hospital, and Department of Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8560, Japan. y.hirakawa@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzuya
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enoki
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D007564:Japan; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires