Taking Care of the Dyad: Frequency of Caregiver Assessment Among Veterans with Dementia

OBJECTIVES This study assessed frequency of caregiver identification and needs of a sample of persons with dementia (PWDs) and their caregivers to determine whether needs were addressed and whether documentation increased with growing levels of self‐reported relationship problems and burden. DESIGN...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) 2019-08, Vol.67 (8), p.1604-1609
Main Authors: Davis, Michelle L., Hendrickson, Jeanie, Wilson, Nancy, Shrestha, Srijana, Amspoker, Amber B., Kunik, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
caregiver
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dementia
Dementia - psychology
Dementia disorders
Documentation
Electronic medical records
Female
Humans
Male
Needs Assessment
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Reviews
veterans
Veterans - psychology
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Summary:OBJECTIVES This study assessed frequency of caregiver identification and needs of a sample of persons with dementia (PWDs) and their caregivers to determine whether needs were addressed and whether documentation increased with growing levels of self‐reported relationship problems and burden. DESIGN Cross‐sectional design using data from electronic medical record (EMR) review and baseline research assessments (Burden Interview and Mutuality Scale). Items from a caregiver assessment tool were used to identify documentation of important factors in clinical guidelines. SETTING Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX. PARTICIPANTS A total of 211 PWDs from a randomized controlled trial testing a psychosocial intervention for preventing aggression in PWDs. MEASUREMENTS EMRs for 12 months before participation in the original study were ed, using a tool created by the authors to assess documentation of information deemed important to caregiver assessment in clinical guidelines (eg, caregiver needs, caregiver well‐being, and caregiving context). The first two authors reviewed the EMRs, adjusting the tool, based on questions that arose. RESULTS Of 211 EMRs of PWDs reviewed, 177 (89%) identified caregivers. Of these, 88% identified the caregiver by name or relation to the PWD, 28% assessed caregiver well‐being, and 41% assessed caregiver needs. All EMRs assessing caregiver needs showed provision of caregiver support (including psychoeducation, skills training, or referrals for additional aid). Levels of self‐reported caregiver burden were not associated with documentation of assessment; however, higher levels of self‐reported relationship problems were positively associated with increased caregiver contact documentation and negatively associated with caregiver need documentation and Alzheimer Association referrals. CONCLUSION Healthcare providers identified caregivers in most of the sample, but less than 50% assessed their well‐being and needs. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1604–1609, 2019
ISSN:0002-8614
1532-5415
DOI:10.1111/jgs.15882