When caregivers of spouses with dementia (SWD) face their own unexpected hospitalizations, the consequences can be severe, according to a recent study.
The report found that a staggering 81% of caregivers felt somewhat or not at all prepared for their personal healthcare, and 62% felt somewhat or not at all confident about finding adequate care for their spouse in the event of their own hospitalization. This lack of preparedness, the report emphasized, can lead to significant stress and disruption for both the caregiver and their loved one with dementia.
By illuminating such statistics, the researchers’ goal was to identify opportunities for intervention that might ease caregiver stress in the event of a personal healthcare crisis.
One of several opportunities for intervention discussed in the study involves establishing a support system, such as a child or friend, to bridge the care gap while the primary caregiver is hospitalized. This reflects findings that most survey respondents had no solid backup plan: 18% felt very prepared, 52% felt somewhat prepared, and 29% felt they were not at all prepared to find care for their SWD if they, the caregiver, were unexpectedly hospitalized.
In addition, 36% of survey respondents reported they were very confident that their SWD would receive the care they needed if they, the caregiver, were unexpectedly hospitalized, 48% reported they were somewhat confident, and 14% indicated they were not at all confident
One finding that surprised the researchers involved caregiver reported stress levels. “We had hypothesized that caregivers would identify the hospitalization as the most stressful time period for them. However, this was not the case.” Survey authors added, “Some caregivers reported feeling relieved There are many potential issues that could influence the different stress levels that these two groups experienced including stress levels prior to the hospitalization, extent of caregiver illness, caregiver burden, and whether the caregiver has support. All these potential influences on stress warrant further study; especially in light of designing caregiver interventions.”
This shows that interventions to support caregivers throughout their own health crises cannot be one-size-fits-all, study authors concluded. Findings indicate that meeting caregivers’ needs should be tailored according to individual circumstances, existing support systems, and current stress levels related to their caregiving duties.
