Can domestic helpers moderate distress of offspring caregivers of cognitively impaired older adults?
This study examined the moderating effect of domestic helpers on distress of offspring caring for parents with cognitive impairments and with or without behavioural problems.



This secondary analysis of data involved 5086 Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 60 or older applying for public long-term care services from 2010 to 2012. All variables were measured using the mandatory Hong Kong version of the Minimum Data Set-Home Care 2.0.



Regarding taking care of parents with cognitive impairments, 10.7% of offspring primary caregivers were aided by domestic helpers, 55.54% reported distress, and 75.70% lived with their parents. Assistance from domestic helpers reduced offspring caregiver distress if the offspring provided psychological support to parents (ratio of OR = 0.655, p < .05) and were not living with parents (ratio of OR = 1.183, p < .01).



These findings might suggest: a) the positive effects of audience on psychological responses to stress; b) caregiving is usually less stressful for informal caregivers not residing with care recipients. Conversely, having a domestic helper could add to caregiving distress if offspring caregivers live with their parents, most likely because offspring may witness difficulties that domestic helpers face in providing dementia care.
a Department of Applied Social Sciences , City University of Hong Kong , Kowloon , Hong Kong.
Alice M L
AML
Chong
b Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science , University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong City , Hong Kong.
Chi Wai
CW
Kwan
c Department of Social Work and Social Administration , University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong City.|d Sau Po Centre on Aging , University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong City , Hong Kong.
Vivian W Q
VWQ
Lou
e School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
Iris
I
Chi
D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
Caregiver distress; dementia; domestic helpers; offspring caregivers