title: A Comparative Descriptive Study of Characteristics of Early- and Late-Onset Dementia Family Caregivers.
abstract: Characteristics of early- and late-onset dementia family caregivers were described and compared. Based on a theoretical model of role transition, data were collected through structured interviews from 48 caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia older than the age of 70 and 48 caregivers of similarly diagnosed adults younger than the age of 60. A significantly higher proportion of caregivers of younger adults were spouses and gainfully employed compared with those of older adults; they had more years of schooling, took care of a person with more severe impairments, received more help, perceived themselves as better prepared to deal with future needs, and better informed about services. They did not differ from caregivers of older adults in terms of psychological distress, role confidence, self-efficacy, and social support. This study highlights differences and similarities to be considered in the development of services tailored to the specific needs of each group.
authors: Research Centre, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada francine.ducharme@umontreal.ca.
authors: Francine
authors: F
authors: Ducharme
authors: Département d'éducation et pédagogie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Lise
authors: L
authors: Lachance
authors: Director of the Memory Clinic at the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Marie-Jeanne
authors: MJ
authors: Kergoat
authors: Research Centre Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Renée
authors: R
authors: Coulombe
authors: Psychopathology and Health Psychology, Université de Lille 3, Lille, France.
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Antoine
authors: Université de Lille, Centre National de référence pour les patients jeunes atteints de la maladie d'Alzheimer et maladies apparentées, Lille, France.
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Pasquier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: characteristics; comparative study; early-onset dementia; family caregivers; late-onset dementia