A Study on Changes of Primary Caregivers' Fatigue, Depression and Life Satisfaction by Using Dementia Day Care Service

Lee, Young Whee; Park, Kyung Hee; Seong, Yeon Sil

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study is to examine how dementia day care service affects fatigue, depression and life satisfaction of caregiver. METHODS: The study was conducted using a convenient sampling method from 6 Dementia Day Care Center in Incheon. Thirty nine primary caregivers answered the questionnaires. Pre-test was done before demented elders start using the dementia day care center and post-test was done five months after. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in caregivers' fatigue level after using dementia day care service(t=2.188, p=.035). Results of subcategories were as follows; There was a significant difference in caregivers' physical fatigue level(t=2.270, p=.029) and psychological fatigue level(t=2.277, p=.029) after using dementia day care service. However, there was not significant difference in caregivers' neurological fatigue level(t=1.312, p=.197). There was a significant difference in caregivers' depression level(t=3.066, p=.004) and life satisfaction(t=-2.131, p=.040) after using dementia day care service. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that dementia day care service is helpful for family with demented elders. Therefore it is necessary to expand dementia day care center in terms of its size and numbers in order to support increasing number of demented elders and their families.