No description available.

Most demented individuals are now cared for at home by family members. The present study examined the coping strategies employed by family caregivers, their perception of burden, and the internal dialogues employed by caregivers to stressful events. Sixteen (13 females, 3 males) participants with an average age of 67.4 years were interviewed. Results indicate that caregivers who spend less hours per week caring for their care receiver perceived less overall burden and caregivers who subjectively felt that they were coping with their role tended to use more coping strategies. Caregivers' internal dialogues and comments concerning problems coping with Alzheimer's patients are included.

The purpose of this study was to determine if distinct subgroups of patients with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) could be identified using seven scales of the Cognitive Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS). Ward's method of cluster analysis was used to group 104 patients with a probable diagnosis of SDAT into subtypes.The following three clusters were identified: (a) Moderately Impaired, (b) Severely Impaired, and (c) Emotionally Intact which displayed differences in symptom severity. Clusters could be partially defined by the amount of time they had been diagnosed with the disease. Differences in the cluster's configuration of scores had little/no descriptive utility. Subsequent discrimination analyses indicated that patient demographics were not as useful as the CBRS in classification of patients.This study provided evidence for the CBRS's ability to differentially portray SDAT patients' profiles. Results provide partial support for a stage model of SDAT. Implications of existing subgroups in SDAT are discussed as they pertain to patient management issues. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among the factors identified in the McCubbin ( 1993) Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation (MRM) to determine the applicability of the model to caregivers for a family member with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The MRM was developed to describe the factors that influence the family's ability to adapt to a stressful situation over time. The applicability of the MRM to family caregivers in which a family member suffers from progressive dementia, or AD, has not been evaluated. Data were collected through a mail survey sent to 300 family caregivers of persons with AD on the mailing list of a local AD service organization. An anonymous random sample of 43 family caregivers was obtained. Participants completed a demographic tool and two interval level scales developed by McCubbin and colleagues; the Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation General (FIRA-G) and the Family Member Well-being Index (FMWB). The instruments measured the association between MRM's independent variables (Stressors, Strains, Social Support, Coping, Coherence, Relative and Friend Support, and Hardiness) and MRM's dependent variables (Family Member Well-Being and Distress). The relationships between the scores of the FIRA-G and the FMWB were determined by Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Significant relationships were found between the factors identified in the MRM. The findings in this study suggest that significant relationships exist among the factors identified in the MRM and that the MRM maybe useful in studying AD populations. Ultimately, the use of the MRM may improve healthcare providers' ability to recognize and treat caregiver stress, which will in turn improve the home care of patients with AD.

No description available.

Currently, 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). As the segment of Americans aged 65 and older continues to increase, the number of older adults with AD/ADRD (referred to as Persons Living with Dementia [PLWD]) also grows. Additionally, the use of health care services, such as hospitalizations, is increasing among PLWD. Indeed, hospitalizations are more prevalent among PLWD compared to older adults without dementia. Some of these hospitalizations are ambulatory care sensitive condition hospitalizations that can be prevented if individuals have better access to high-quality primary care. However, delivering high-quality primary care is becoming increasingly challenging given the projected PLWD population increase and the shortage of primary care providers. On the other hand, the number of primary care nurse practitioners who can deliver high-quality and cost-effective care to older adults has grown in recent years and will continue to increase with demand. Nonetheless, little is known about how to strengthen essential practice features (i.e., structural capabilities) needed to deliver high-quality care in practices where nurse practitioners provide care to PLWD. Enhancing primary care delivery by strengthening structural capabilities in primary care, such as electronic health records, care coordination, community integration, and reminder systems, can be an effective way to reduce hospitalizations among PLWD. The overall objective of this dissertation is to assess the effects of primary care structural capabilities in practices employing nurse practitioners on both ambulatory care sensitive conditions and all-cause hospitalizations among PLWD. This dissertation entails five chapters. Chapter 1 describes the significance of structural capabilities and related outcomes among PLWD. Chapter 2 includes a systematic review of existing dementia care models in various ambulatory care settings and summarizes the impact of dementia care models on hospitalizations among community-residing PLWD in the United States. Chapter 3 describes the availability of the selected structural capabilities in primary care practices where nurse practitioners provide care to PLWD. The structural capabilities of practices that provide care to a high volume of PLWD are also compared to those caring for a low volume of PLWD in this chapter. Chapter 4 assesses the impact of structural capabilities in primary care practices employing nurse practitioners on hospitalizations among PLWD. Finally, Chapter 5 summarizes the findings from Chapters 2 to 4 and includes information on the strengths, limitations, and implications of the research and findings of the dissertation.

Personality characteristics of spousal and adult children and active potential caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease were studied in order to better predict caregiver burden and aspects of well-being. Contrary to prediction, no differences were found between spouse and adult children active caregivers on measures of well-being. Additionally, adult children potential caregivers indicated feeling less control over their lives than spouse potential caregivers. When social desirability was controlled, active caregivers reported greater fluctuations in affect than did potential caregivers. As predicted, personality characteristics of individuals were found to have the biggest role in determining which individuals experience stress or burden.

No description available.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to document and analyze the perceptions of family caregivers of non-institutionalized Alzheimer's patients about the benefits and limitations of Alzheimer's support groups. Survey methodology was used to survey caregivers and support group leaders from eight Alzheimer's support groups in the central Indiana area. Several of the major findings challenge the literature. These findings are as follows: The majority of caregivers attended the support group to receive information. None of the caregivers attended the support group due to frustration, and only one caregiver responded that relieving frustration was a benefit of participating in the support group. A majority of caregivers and support group leaders were positive about mixed (spouses and adult children) support groups. A majority of caregivers responded that they did not have guilt, anger, fears about caregiving in the future, or stress concerning their caregiving responsibilities. The study generated several implications that can be used by planners to improve support groups. / Department of Educational Leadership