TY  - JOUR
AU  - Kilik, Lindy A.
AU  - Hopkins, Robert W.
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/05/09
TI  - The Relationship between Caregiver Stress and Behavioural Changes in Dementia
JO  - OBM Geriatrics
SP  - 052
VL  - 03
IS  - 02
AB  - Background: Clinical studies have shown that caregivers of dementia patients often experience a   great deal of stress related to caregiving. This paper examines caregiver stress within the context of behaviour change in dementia using the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale (KCSS) and the Kingston                    Standardized Behaviour Scale (Community Form) (KSBA(comm)).
Methods: Eighty patients with moderate dementia and their caregivers participated.  Each patient     was cognitively assessed with the Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment - revised (KSCAr) and the MMSE.  They were also assessed behaviourally with the KSBA(comm).  Each caregiver completed the KCSS.
Results: Caregivers reported 13 behaviour changes, on average, as identified by the (KSBA(comm)), with Neuropsychological behaviours outnumbering Neuropsychiatric  behaviours (KSBA factors) 3:1.  Findings showed a strong correlation (rs = 0.80) between caregiver stress and behaviour change, with significant correlations for both the Neuropsychological (rs = 0.69) and Neuropsychiatric (rs = 0.62) factors.  Caregiver gender was not significant for level of experienced stress, but caregiver relationship was, where adult child caregivers reported higher levels of family-related stress than did spouses. 

Conclusions: Caregivers were able to differentiate sources of stress; the strongest relationship emerging between behavioural impairment and stress related to caregiving (rs = 0.80).  This supports the hypothesis that behavioural symptoms of dementia play a central role in the experience of caregiver stress.
SN  - 2638-1311
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902052
DO  - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902052
ID  - Kilik2019
ER  -