Title:
Factors corresponding with the difficulty level of the decision to institutionalize a relative or care recipient with dementia:
Author:
Natalie G. Regier
Thesis Advisor:
David V. Powers
Committee Member:
Beth A. Kotchick
Committee Member:
Christopher I. Higginson
Committee Member:
Marcia S. Marx
Committee Member:
James Mirackv
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2011
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
reformatted digital
Abstract:
While there is a large body of literature examining the predictors of nursing home placement of persons with dementia as well as the caregiver’s decision-making process, there is a dearth of research on the factors corresponding to the level of difficulty of the decision to institutionalize. Participants of this study were the caregivers of 201 adult day care participants with dementia. Participants completed a relative demographic sheet, a health history, and a relative/guardian questionnaire. Following the initial interview, participants were contacted every six months to determine if their relative had been placed in a nursing facility. If not, they filled out the same questionnaires given initially. If placement had occurred, the participants completed a Nursing Home Entry Questionnaire that included information regarding the difficulty of the decision to institutionalize. Other assessments collected were a Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and health, functional, nutritional, psychological, cognitive, and activity assessments. The relationship between primary objective stressors, primary subjective stressors, and context of care variables and the difficulty level of institutionalization were examined. Preliminary correlations were obtained, and based on these correlations three multiple regression analyses were conducted. The multiple regression analysis for primary objective stressors was statistically significant, and indicated that the presence of at least one delusion and verbally nonaggressive behavior were predictive of the difficulty of the decision to institutionalize. The multiple regression analysis for primary subjective stressors was statistically significant, and indicated that comparatively less caregiver burden, as determined by the ZBI, as well as higher ratings of being “angry when around relative” and feeling “your health suffered because of caring” were predictive of the difficulty of the decision to institutionalize. The multiple regression analysis for context of care variables was statistically significant, and indicated that gender and religion were predictive of the difficulty level of the decision to institutionalize. Increasing the body of literature on variables corresponding to the difficulty level of institutionalization can provide guidance and assist in the emotional preparation for making this major life decision. Furthermore, informed decision-making guidance from health care professionals may decrease the likelihood of premature nursing home placements.
Subject:
Older people--Nursing home care
Subject:
Older people--Care
Subject:
Caregivers
Subject:
Geriatric Depression Scale (Long Form)
Subject:
Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
Degree:
Master of Science
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Clinical Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online to Loyola Notre Dame Library basic constituency.
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Identifier:
RegierNG-11
