Assessment of burden among caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly, residing in an urban area of North Karnataka: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: The population of elderly is on the rise with estimates of 8.8%in urban area. Increase in the number of nuclear families, specially in the urban areas the elderly have been experiencing multiple morbidities, predominantly dementia and the burden associated with the caregivers of such elderly is enormous. Thus the study was undertaken to assess the burden of the caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly, residing in an urban area. Methods: It was a Cross sectional study in an Urban Health Centre, field practice area, of JN Medical College, KLE University, Belagavi of North Karnataka from 1st January to 31st December 2012. Among the 783 elderly, >60 years, assessed for cognitive impairment using Mini Mental State Examination/Hindi Mini Mental State Examination for literate /illiterate respectively, 55 elderly were cognitively impaired (MMSE/HMSE score<25). Caregivers of these 55 elderly who were permanent residents of the field practice area (Residing for one year with demented elderly) were interviewed using Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale(ZBI) to assess for emotional, financial, social burnout. Results: 22 (40.00%) Caregivers were males and 33 (60.00%) were females.07(12.73%) had studied up to primary school, 15 (27.27%) up to high school, 24 (43.64%) up to Pre-university degree 01(1.81%) had completed diploma and 8(14.55%) caregivers were graduates. 16 (29.09%) of them had a ZBI scale score between 21 to 40 (mild to moderate burden), 38 (69.09%) scored between 41 to 60 (Moderate to severe burden) and 1 (1.82%) scored between 61-88 and experienced severe burden. Conclusions: Majority 60.0% of the caregivers were women in the productive age group of 21-40 years. Had to take the dual responsibility of care-taking and working plus raising up their children. The caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly, majority of them experienced a lot of physical, emotional, psychological stress and strain. Maximum of the caregivers were over taxed with responsibilities and felt that all responsibility fell on one caregiver (dependence burden).