Correlation Between Caregiver Social Support and Caregiver Strain in Caring for the Elderly With Dementia

Karuga, Stephen; Karuga, Stephen

Aims: Caregiver of care-recipient with dementia indicate twice as much substantial emotional, financial, and physical difficulties. The role of caregiver takes its toll both physically and emotionally and is manifested as caregiver strain and poorer quality of life. Dementia diagnosis of the care-recipient included anyone with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Korsakoff’s syndrome. The main objective of this study is to explore a potential correlation between caregiver social support and caregiver strain in those caring for the elderly with dementia.

Participants: The study represented 32 participants who were adult caregivers of the elderly with dementia living in the community (96 % female and 96 % 45 years and older).

Method: Sociodemographic data was collected from each participant included age of caregiver, how the caregiver identifies themselves, ethnicity of the caregiver, marital status of the caregiver, caregiver relationship with loved with dementia, caregiver educational level, and duration loved one has had dementia. Caregiver social support was measured using The Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) and caregiver strain was measures The Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MSCI). Participants were recruited online from Alzheimer’s Association and Family Caregiver Alliance and data collected online via the Survey Money platform.

Results: Correlation between caregiver social support and care strain score was strong and in the negative direction (p = 0.002 and r = -0.517). Each of the four categories of caregiver social support were negatively correlated and moderately to strong with caregiver strain. No correlation with any of the sociodemographic data and caregiver strain.

Conclusion: Caregivers with higher social support have lower caregiver strain and caregiver with less caregiver support have higher caregiver strain. Assessment of social support and caregiver strain is essential in any clinical setting and once a need of social support is identified, referral to community services is required in order to mitigate caregiver strain.

Keywords: Caregiver, social support, caregiver burden, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease