Assisted vacations for men with dementia and their caregiving spouses : evaluation of health-related effects
Deutscher übersetzter Titel: | Unterstützter Urlaub für Männer mit Demenz und deren pflegenden Ehepartnern : Bewertung der gesundheitsbezogenen Effekte |
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Autor: | Wilz, Gabriele; Fink-Heitz, Margit |
Erschienen in: | The gerontologist |
Veröffentlicht: | 48 (2008), 1, S. 115–120, Lit. |
Format: | Literatur (SPOLIT) |
Publikationstyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
Medienart: | Elektronische Ressource (online) Gedruckte Ressource |
Sprache: | Englisch |
ISSN: | 0016-9013, 1758-5341 |
Schlagworte: | |
Online Zugang: | |
Erfassungsnummer: | PU201011008367 |
Quelle: | BISp |
Abstract
Purpose: In this study, we conducted the first evaluation of assisted vacations for persons with dementia and their caregivers in the field of caregiving research. Design and Methods: We used a quasi-experimental, two-group, repeated measures design with two measuring times (preintervention, 3-month follow-up) to examine whether assisted vacations lead to a reduction in physical complaints and symptoms of depression in family caregivers. The sample consisted of 29 caregiving wives who were providing at-home care for husbands suffering from dementia. We selected the participants in the control group from a waiting list. Outcome measurements were made with the Giessen Subjective Complaints List and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: The overall emotional and physical states of the participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in comparison with those of the control group 3 months after the first interview. Implications: The results show that assisted vacations can have both immediate and longer lasting positive effects on participants' health. Assisted vacations can therefore be a way of diminishing the risk of stress disorders for caregiving spouses. Making assisted vacations available to people with dementia and their caregivers is a worthwhile goal for community support facilities working to reduce caregiver burden. Verf.-Referat