Burden of care of the caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients and relationship with burnout syndromes

Abstract

Introduction

Increased caregiver burden and burn out in Alzheimer disease is associated with a spectrum of problems, like depression or anxiety.

Objectives

To examine the relationship between the burden of care and burnout level of professional staff dealing with Alzheimer's disease patients in geriatric inpatient centers in Turkey.

Methods

Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale to measure the level of burden of care, and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to measure the level of burnout. Relationships between the socio-demographic data of the sample group, burden of care and burnout level were investigated. Sample group was consisting of 203 caregivers working in 8 geriatric care centers in Istanbul.

Results

The surveyed caregivers’ “burden of care giving” level was low (35.3 ± 9.9); “emotional exhaustion” level was weak (2.3 ± 0.8); “depersonalization” level was weak (1.9 ± 0.6); “a feeling of low personal accomplishment” level was weak (2.5 ± 0.8); “general burnout” level was weak (2.3 ± 0.5). There was positive correlation between caregiver burden and burnout level. According to the sociodemographic data, married women with children were especially in increased risk for burnout. Low level of education was associated with increased caregiver burden and burnout. Caregiver burden and depersonalization points were also higher with increasing age.

Conclusions

Supportive interventions are needed to decrease the burnout and caregiver burden especially for the caregivers with increased risk.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.