Caregiver Stress between Carers of Dementia Patients

Mossad, Nora Ali; Hamza, Sarah Ahmed; Wahba, Hoda MF; Yousif, Heba; Tolba, Mohammad Fahmy

doi:10.21608/ejgg.2025.367148.1150

Caregiver Stress between Carers of Dementia Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt - Geriatric Palliative Care Unit, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt

² Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejgg.2025.367148.1150

Abstract

Introduction: Care-giving of dementia patients can be stressful, especially when a patient has significant behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), causing high levels of stress and burnout.
Objective: To study prevalence and risk factors of caregiver stress between caregivers of dementia patients.
Methods: Ninety-seven (97) elderly subjects were collected from geriatrics memory clinic and ward at Geriatrics Hospital, ASUH located at Cairo, Egypt. Dementia was diagnosed by Minimental state exam (MMSE). Patients’ data were obtained. Relevant clinical events, including frequency of BPSD episodes in the last 2 months before enrollment in the study, were recorded. Caregiver stress among carers was checked by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-A).
Results: Our results showed high prevalence of caregiver stress among studied caregivers; with 27% reporting mild to moderate burden and 68% reporting high burden. Among studied parameters, ZBI-A score was positively correlated with patient age, caregiver age, frequency of delirium episodes, frequency of BPSD episodes, and frequency of home visits emergency room (ER) visits, and hospital admissions. In contrast, ZBI-A score was negatively correlated with MMSE score.
Conclusion: Caregiver stress is a significant concern for individuals caring elderly with cognitive impairment; and it is predisposed by a complex interaction of patient aspects, disease factors, and caregiver characteristics. The severity of the disease, the frequency of BPSD, and the carer's own health all play crucial roles in determining the level of stress the caregiver faces.

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