Well-being of caregivers of spouses with Parkinson's disease.

This study examined the relationship among stages of Parkinson's disease (PD), elderly care receivers' physical and social functioning, and spousal caregivers' physical, social, psychological, and economic well-being. The nonrandom, convenience study sample comprised 30 spousal caregivers of elderly individuals diagnosed with PD; all attended group support sessions. Findings indicated a statistically significant linear relationship between stages of PD and care receivers' functional ability and between care receivers' functional and social ability and caregivers' hours of caregiving. Caregivers' health was associated with diminished physical functioning of care receivers. Caregivers' age, years of marriage, and educational level were associated with their social, psychological, and financial well-being. The main implication for nursing practice is that elderly family caregivers must be included in mutually developed care plans; they are at high risk for diminished well-being because of the time and energy involved in providing needed care.