Personalizes Social Support for non-dependent old persons decrease significantly caregivers’ burden: a longitudinal study of 876 old persons and their caregiver.

Abstract

Background. Informal care provided by family caregivers in old persons is associated to a high risk of burden and poor health status. This study aimed to analyze the impact of a Personalized Social Support (PSS) attributed to non-dependent old persons living in the community on caregiver burden, satisfaction and frailty. Methods. This non-interventional longitudinal study was performed in the south East area of in France: old persons asking for a PSS (>70 years old, with no disability and no severe chronic disease, living at home) and their caregiver were included with a 6-months follow up. Dyads were visited at home by social workers. Caregivers Burden has been assessed with Mini-Zarit and frailty status with FiND (Frail Non-Disable). Results. 876 dyads (old persons: female 77.6%, aged 82.2 ± 5.8 years old; caregivers: 64.5% female, 29% spouse, 61% children; 64% with frailty and 38% with high burden (high burden being significantly associated with frailty)) were eligible for a PSS. The follow-up was possible completed for 686 of them (78.3%). Among them, 569 PSS were financed, mainly: housekeeping and meal preparation. At follow-up, 53% of caregivers who had PSS experienced fewer difficulties in caring for their old person. Whether or not they received the PSS, 73% of the caregiver had a lower burden level, only 6% had a persistent high burden; 17% of them were less frail and 18% felt their health status was better than at the time of inclusion. 61,5% of caregivers who had PSS were totally satisfied. Conclusions. Our study highlight that the burden occurs also in non-dependent old person’s caregivers. Social support implementation for activity of daily living had a major impact on the burden but not on the caregiver frailty, which means that determinants of caregiver’s frailty are more complex and further studies are needed.