Caregivers of Older Clients with Severe Mental Illness: Perceptions of Burdens and Rewards

Abstract

Approximately 1 million older persons have a severe mental illness (SMI) and this number is expected to double in the coming decades. While research studies have examined the experiences of family members of younger persons with SMI, very little is known about caregivers of older SMI clients. This study examined the characteristics, burdens, and rewards of 60 caregivers of older SMI clients using a modified version of family caregiver scales of Tessler, Fisher, & Gamache (1992). Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that increased client symptoms, higher levels of help provided, increased caregiver income, and knowledge about the care recipient's diagnosis were predicative of caregiver burden. Decreased number of client symptoms, care recipient being female, and greater experience of the presence of God predicted caregiver rewards. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Formal and informal support for older adults with severe mental illness

“…Auslander and Jeste (2002) found that older clients with psychiatric disorders encounter on-going service needs related to communication and interpersonal relationships. Other researchers indicate that intimate relations and social contact needs are among those most often cited by older SMI clients and those that most frequently remain unmet (Cummings & MacNeil, 2008;McNulty, Duncan, Semple, Jackson, & Pelosi, 2003). Other social functioning needs of older adults with SMI include assistance with money, learning about potential benefits, handling domestic skills, homemaking chores, and transportation (Bengtsson-Tops & Hannson, 1999;Cummings & Cassie, in press;LeiBe & Kallert, 2003;McNulty et al, 2003).…”

“…While some research on the formal services available to assist the older adults with SMI does exist, much less is known about the amount and types of informal support available to assist older adults with severe psychiatric diagnoses. Cummings and MacNeil (2008) conducted research with 60 caregivers of older adults with SMI. The majority of these caregivers were either adult children (40%) or siblings (18%).…”

Race‐Related Differences in the Experiences of Family Members of Persons with Mental Illness Participating in the NAMI Family to Family Education Program

“…Coping with the strain of shifting roles, subjective and objective challenges of caregiving, and stigma can stress family members (Schulze and Rössler 2005). On the other hand, it can create positive and rewarding experiences including a sense of fulfillment for the caregiver, engagement with the ill family member, and closer family relationships (Chen and Greenberg 2004;Cummings and MacNeil 2008). On the other hand, it can create positive and rewarding experiences including a sense of fulfillment for the caregiver, engagement with the ill family member, and closer family relationships (Chen and Greenberg 2004;Cummings and MacNeil 2008).…”

Measuring Use of Resourcefulness Skills: Psychometric Testing of a New Scale

“…Family members of persons with serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and others, have received limited attention [13, 14]. Individuals who have a family member diagnosed with a serious mental illness are at risk for poor health and low quality of life because of the stress and stigma by association that they experience [15, 16].…”