Bowen Kate J, Gonzalez Elizabeth W, Edwards Carolyn Y, Lippa Carol F
Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
College of Nursing & Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2014 Dec;29(8):667-72. doi: 10.1177/1533317514534952. Epub 2014 May 22.
Previous research shows that informal caregivers of individuals with a memory disorder experience financial strain, declining physical health, and psychological distress. Various resources and services have been developed to address and/or prevent these potential outcomes, yet caregivers continue to be negatively affected by the demands of caregiving. We hypothesize that better identification and clarification of concrete patient and caregiver needs will aid in the modification and improvement of the available resources. The purpose of this study is to determine the psychosocial needs of the cognitively impaired population and their caregivers.
A one-page Needs Assessment was created to address areas of potential concern for the individual with a memory disorder and the caregiver. This assessment was administered during visits to an outpatient clinic in Philadelphia.
A total of 204 Needs Assessments were collected. The significant needs found in our study cohort include sleep, exercise, clinical trials, education, and assistance with ADLs and IADLs.
This study satisfied the initial identification of caregiver and patient needs; now each must be explored further to determine how to successfully meet such needs. If the primary needs of the patient can be met by a focused service, the caregiver will no longer be the sole provider of meeting the specific need. This will decrease the involved role of the caregiver, maximize patient homecare, minimize caregiver stress, and increase the quality of life for both the patient and caregiver.
先前的研究表明，患有记忆障碍者的非正式照护者会经历经济压力、身体健康下降和心理困扰。已经开发了各种资源和服务来应对和/或预防这些潜在后果，但照护者仍然受到照护需求的负面影响。我们假设，更好地识别和明确具体的患者及照护者需求将有助于对现有资源进行调整和改进。本研究的目的是确定认知障碍人群及其照护者的心理社会需求。
创建了一份单页需求评估表，以解决记忆障碍患者及其照护者可能关注的领域。该评估在费城一家门诊诊所的就诊期间进行。
共收集到204份需求评估表。我们研究队列中发现的显著需求包括睡眠、锻炼、临床试验、教育以及日常生活活动和工具性日常生活活动方面的协助。
本研究满足了对照护者和患者需求的初步识别；现在必须对每一项需求进行进一步探索，以确定如何成功满足这些需求。如果通过一项针对性服务能够满足患者的主要需求，那么照护者将不再是满足特定需求的唯一提供者。这将减少照护者所承担的角色，使患者家庭护理最大化，将照护者压力最小化，并提高患者和照护者的生活质量。
