J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2010 Dec;21(4):439-447. 10.12799/jkachn.2010.21.4.439.

The Burden of Aged Parents Caring for Adult Children with Disabilities

• Suk MH
• Kim E

• KMID: 2292874
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2010.21.4.439

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to describe the burden of aged parents caring for adult children with disabilities and related factors.
METHODS
The subjects were 123 caregivers aged over 65 who were caring for 18-year-old or older children with disabilities. The research tool of this study was a structured questionnaire on family burden. Data were collected from June 3 to 25, 2010, and analyzed by Cronbach's alpha, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA using SAS 9.2 program.
RESULTS
The major findings of this study were as follows. Elderly parents caring for adult children with disabilities perceived a moderate level of burden. The burden from concern over their children's future was highest, and economic and physical burdens were higher when the parents were younger. Burden was significantly different according to parents' characteristics such as gender, perceived health status, disease, the costs of caring for disabled children, and children's characteristics such as disability rating, health status, and ADL.
CONCLUSION
In order to reduce the burden of elderly parents caring for adult children with disabilities, we need to improve their health status and assess comprehensive policies.

Keyword

Aged; Parents; Disabled children; Caregivers

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Adult Children*
Adult*
Aged
Caregivers
Disabled Children
Humans
Parents*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Reference

1. Choi KJ, Baek HJ. Burden and quality of life in caregivers of patients with rare and incurable disease. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2006; 17(3):364–375.

2. Eley DS, Boyes J, Young L, Hegney DG. Accommodation needs for carers of and adults with intellectual disability in regional Australia: Their hopes for and perceptions of the future. Rural Remote Health. 2009; 9(3):1239.

3. Greenberg JS, Seltzer MM, Greenley JR. Aging parents of adults with disabilities: The gratifications and frustrations of later-life caregiving. Gerontologist. 1993; 33(4):542–550.

4. Haveman M, Berkum G, Reijunders R, Heller T. Differences in service needs, time demands, and caregiving burden among parents of persons with mental retardation across the life cycle. Fam Relat. 1997; 46:417–425.

5. Hong YS, Suh MJ, Kim KS, Kim IJ, Cho NO, Choi HJ, et al. Relations between perceived burden and social support of stroke patient's family caregiver. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2000; 30(3):595–605.

6. Korea Disables People's Development Institute. 2009 Data on Registered Disabled. Seoul: Korea Disables People's Development Institute;2009.

7. Kim HO, Jung KH. A study on the needs of health & community services among the disabled at home in rural areas. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2007; 18(3):480–491.

8. Kim HR. Health status among community elderly in Korea. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2003; 33(5):544–552.

9. Kim YJ, Lee PS. A Study on the Burdens and Depressive Reactions on Families who Cared for Patients Suffering from Senile Dementia. J Korean Acad Nurs. 1999; 29(4):766–779.

10. Lee HJ, Eo YS. A study on family functioning and burden of parents with cerebral palsy children. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 2000; 6(2):199–211.

11. Lee JY, Kim YA. Relationship between family burden, family support, depression, and satisfaction of the elderly caregiver. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2009; 20(1):41–48.

12. Lee MS. A study of burden in mothers of children with congenital metabolic disorders. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 1995; 1(1):26–36.

13. Llácer A, Zunzunegui MV, Gutierrez-Cuadra P, Béland F, Zarit SH. Correlates of wellbeing of spousal and children carers of disabled people over 65 in Spain. Eur J Public Health. 2002; 12(1):3–9.

14. Maurer FA, Smith CM. Community/Public health nursing practice: Health for families and populations. 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders;2009.

15. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2008 Survey on the Status and Needs of the Elderly in Korea. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2009a.

16. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2009 Registered Disabled Persons(National). Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2009b. 12.

17. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2010 Elderly Health and Welfare Service Guide. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2010.

18. Oh KS, Chae SM, Cheon NY. The reliability and validity of family burden questionnaire. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 2002; 8(3):272–280.

19. Paik SH, Park IS. Social support and burden in mothers of children with cancer. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 1996; 2(1):27–54.

20. Park HR, Park SN, Jung KH, Kim HJ. The hope, burden and family function in mothers of children with cancer. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 2001; 7(1):51–61.

21. Park JS, Oh YJ. A study health problem and Perceived health status of the rural elderly. J Korean Community Nurs. 2003; 14(2):274–286.

22. Ryu HS, Hwang RI, Suk MH, Chin DL. A study on evaluation of district visiting nursing services of urban health center. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2005; 16(2):127–136.

23. Smith GC, Hatfield AB, Miller DC. Planning by older mothers for the future care of offspring with serious mental illness. Psychiatr Serv. 2000; 51(9):1162–1166.

24. Son YJ, Choi EY, Song YA. A study on the health status and need of health education of the elderlyfocuses on some elders living in Jeju. J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2008; 19(2):143–156.

25. Suh MH, Oh KS. A study of well-being in caregivers caring for chronically ill family members. J Nurs Acad Soc. 1993; 23(3):467–486.

26. Sung MH, Paik SN. A study on burden and quality of life in mothers of child with nephrotic syndrome. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 1999; 5(2):125–135.

27. Zarit SH, Reever KE, Bach-Peterson J. Relatives of the impaired elderly: Correlates of feelings of burden. Gerontologist. 1980; 20(6):649–655.