QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS IN PERSONS CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract

Dementia is associated with decreased memory, impaired thinking, behavior and ability to perform daily functions. This condition mainly affects the elderly and is one of the main causes of disability. Dementia affects not only patients, their families and caregivers, but society as a whole. The number of people with dementia is on the rise worldwide, and prognosis generally indicates a significant increase in overall prevalence associated with population aging. A large number of patients with dementia are at home, where their family members perform the function of caring for them. With the progression of the disease, patients lose the ability to care for themselves on their own, so the question of outside care arises for their relatives. The aim of this study is to analyze the quality of life indicators in persons performing the function of caring for patients with dementia. It has been found that almost 80% of patients with dementia are cared for by their relatives. Caregivers are at risk of depression, anxiety and psychological stress. In this study, the authors identified factors influencing the mental health of caregivers, among which the degree of dementia and the patient's ability to perform daily activities were significant. In caregivers with a low level of mental tension, manifestations of social maladaptation were less common. Depending on the level of psychological stress, individuals with a high level of tension had lower indicators of quality of life on the scales "physical functioning" (p=0.003), "role functioning due to physical condition" (p<0.001), "social functioning" (p=0.04), "role functioning due to emotional state" (p=0.003), "mental health" (p=0,004). For this category of people, it is recommended to use counseling, psycho-educational activities aimed at understanding the improvement of quality of life.

Keywords

• caregivers of patients with dementia, quality of life, level of psychological stress.