Measuring the impact of informal elderly caregiving: a systematic review of tools

Abstract

The great variety and characteristics of instruments identified in this review confirm the complexity and multidimensionality of the effects of elderly caregiving on the informal carer's life and explain the difficulties to assess these effects in practice. According to the classification provided, caregiver burden and emotional and mental health are the most evaluated dimensions. However, further work is required to develop integrated and caregiving focused procedures that can appraise this complexity across different countries and cultures.

Measuring carer burden in informal carers of patients with long-term conditions

“…It has long been recognised that there is a lack of standardization with the tools that exist to measure caregiver burden (Zarit et al, 1980). There is an agreement in the literature that it would be a challenge to develop a generic tool which measures carer burden and one which would consider both objective and subjective reports of burden (Mosquera et al, 2016). However, despite advantages of diseasespecific tools, this review has recognised a convincing need for the development of a short, more generic instrument that could be administered by healthcare practitioners such as nurses or General Practitioners and paramedics to measure the burden of caring for someone with a chronic, long term health condition.…”

“…Despite the consequences of carer burden, the literature fails in providing a universal definition of how it should be measured (Mosquera et al, 2016). According to Zarit et al (1986: p.260) carer burden can be defined as 'the extent to which caregivers perceive that caregiving has had an adverse effect on their emotional, social, financial, physical, and spiritual functioning'.…”

“…According to Glajchen et al (2015), long term caregiving can result in depression, social withdrawal, impaired quality of life or even increased mortality for the carer. Elderly carers are at a particular risk as often they have health problems themselves, although in most cases less severe than care recipients (Mosquera et al, 2016). These individuals have been recognised as 'hidden' carers who are at an increased risk of experiencing carer burden, but they do not recognise themselves as carers because they consider their caring role as a natural consequence of a relationship such as being a spouse (Viana et al, 2013).…”

“…The physical limitations of those requiring support often increases their reliance on unpaid carers (Humphrey et al, 2013). Similarly, as the cognitive abilities of those requiring support diminish, this will often increase their reliance on relatives or friends (Mosquera et al, 2016).…”

Preliminary Evidence for the Validity and Reliability of the Caregiver Reaction Scale

“…The subscales of the CRS contain items commonly identified as part of the caregiver experience, have been recommended for inclusion in comprehensive assessments, and are responsive to intervention (see Belle et al, 2006;Family Caregiver Alliance, 2006;Mosquera et al, 2015;Pinquart, & Sörensen, 2006 can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the caregiver's coping mechanisms and financial concerns. Researchers and providers can use these subscales to piece together a picture of the caregiving burden and areas of potential strength.…”