Informal caregiver burden in middle-income countries Results from Memory Centers in Lima - Peru

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate caregiver burden based on Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and depression in caregivers on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).MethodsLiterate individuals, 18 years or older, who spoke Spanish as their native language were included. Demographic characteristics: Age, sex, education, relationship to person with dementia, length of time caregiving, other sources of help for caring, impact on the household economy, family support, and perception of impaired health; and Clinical data on care-recipients: type of dementia, time since diagnosis, treatment, and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS); the ZBI and BDI-II. Descriptive and analytical statistics were employed to assess caregiver burden and predictors of higher burden in caregivers.ResultsA total of 92 informal caregivers were evaluated. Regarding care-recipients, 75% were 69 years old or over, 75% had at least one year since diagnosis, 73.9% had Alzheimer's disease, 84.8% received treatment, 75% scored 5 or over on the GDS. For caregivers, 75% were 55.5 years old or over, predominantly female (81.5%), married (83.7%), the spouse of care-recipients (60.87%), had at least 10 years of education (75.0%) and one year of caregiving (75%), reduced entertainment time (90.2%) and self-perception of impaired health (83.7%). Median score on the ZBI was 37.5 (minimum value = 3; and maximum value = 74). The coefficient of BDI was 1.38 (p-value <0.001).ConclusionThis sample of Peruvian informal caregivers showed elevated ZBI values. Self-perception of worsened health, repercussion on the family economy and time caregiving were the main determinants of ZBI, although only BDI was a consistent predictor of ZBI.

Effects of COVID-19 on Informal Caregivers and the Development and Validation of a Scale in English and Spanish to Measure the Impact of COVID-19 on Caregivers

“…Older people with care dependency are still mostly cared for at home by family members, sometimes using a caregiver hired by themselves ( National Institute of Statistics and Informatics, 2019). Long-term care systems in LAC are still under construction and health and social services are fragmented, poorly coordinated, and in many cases without universal coverage (Custodio et al, 2014). In these countries, high out-of-pocket costs have been reported for families for the care of elderly people with dementia (Custodio et al, 2015).…”

Sobrecargas física, emocional e social dos cuidadores informais de idosos

“…In this sense, in a survey carried out in Peru, informal caregivers showed deficiencies in physical, psychological and social performance, with poor perceived health and development of various clinical problems and comorbidities. (26) Manifesting worse subjective health, as well as worse objective health, is associated with a greater caregiver burden. Thus, having several conditions, being treated for some chronic illness and suffering from a psychological/psychiatric illness are associated with a greater burden.…”

The Latin America and the Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD): From Networking to Research to Implementation Science

“…Current dementia diagnosis among patients with low education is proving challenging [ 100–102 ]. Low education also increases the burden for caregivers [ 39 ] including Argentina [ 40 ], Brazil [ 41 ], Chile [ 42 ], Colombia [ 43 ], Mexico [ 44 ], Peru [ 45 ], and Uruguay [ 46 ] and widens the disparity gaps we have long witnessed across the region (e.g., limitations for people living in rural areas and members of indigenous communities). Careful analysis is required of how these conditions contribute to the challenges faced by LAC in dealing with dementia.…”