Family caregiver's problems of Alzheimer patients and their relationship with caregiver's mental health

Subject Areas : Journal of Excellence in counseling and psychotherapy

Farah Jafari ¹ , Siavash Chegini ² , Houshang Jadidi ³

1 - کارشناسی ارشد روانشناسی عمومی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی علوم و تحقیقات ساوه
2 - عضو هیئت علمی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد رودهن
3 - استادیار دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد سنندج

Received: 2019-02-21 Accepted : 2019-02-21 Published : 2016-11-21

Keywords: mental health, Alzheimer, caregivers, Caring burden inventory,

Abstract :

Alzheimer's disease is a type of brain impairment that gradually degenerates the mental abilities of the patient and causes discomfort in cognitive functions, personality, thoughts, and perceptions of the individual. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the problems of caregivers close to Alzheimer's patients and their relationship with mental health care providers. Method: The research method was correlational and in this study, 48 close-care caregivers of Alzheimer's patients in Tehran who had at least 6 months of care experience were included in the study by targeted sampling. The data were collected by personal information questionnaires, Goldberg General Health Questionnaire, and caring tolerant assessment. Findings: According to the general health test, the higher the score was, the subjects had lower mental health, the subjects in the general health test scored an average score of 28.81 which indicated mild discomfort. Pearson correlation test showed a significant relationship between care problems and mental health. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that close caregivers of Alzheimer's patients are still exposed to physical, psychological and social disorders. Hence, the responsible institutions and family members of Alzheimer's patients should pay particular attention to this group of caregivers, which will increase the problem solving and hope in the care of the caregiver by reducing the pressure of care, and also in the course of the disease Coupled with the comfort of the patients.