Determinants of the desire to institutionalize in Alzheimer's caregivers.

BACKGROUND

The desire to institutionalize is an important predictor of future institutionalization. Few studies have examined potentially modifiable caregiver characteristics which might be the focus of future interventional strategies.

METHODS

A total of 102 patient/caregiver dyads with Alzheimer's disease (n = 84) or mild cognitive impairment were recruited through a memory clinic. Cross-sectional analyses of a range of patients, caregivers, and context of care-related characteristics were conducted.

RESULTS

Caregiver desire to institutionalize was significantly associated with a number of potentially modifiable variables including caregiver coping style, self-efficacy, depression, burden, and the presence of an unmet service need. In a multivariate analysis, caregiver burden, depression, and nonspousal status were the only significant independent predictors of caregiver desire to institutionalize in a model which correctly classified 80.4% of caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions which seek to reduce caregiver desire to institutionalize should adopt a multifactorial approach to reduce symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers.