Characteristics, Burden of Care and Quality of Life of Next of Kin of People with Dementia Attending Farm-Based Day Care in Norway: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose

Caring for people with dementia is often associated with burden of care and may influence the quality of life of the next of kin. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of the next of kin to people with dementia attending farm-based day care service (FDC) and identify characteristics associated with burden of care and quality of life (QoL) of next of kin.

Participants and Methods

Ninety-four dyads of people with dementia and their next of kin were included from 25 FDCs in Norway in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The Relative Stress Scale (RSS) and the QoL–Alzheimer’s Disease Scale (QoL-AD) were used as outcomes measures.

Results

The participants consisted of those who lived with a person with dementia (spouse/partner, 62%) and those who did not (children), with significant differences in age, education level, work employment, perceived social support, depression symptoms, burden of care, and QoL. In multiple regression models, RSS and QoL were associated with living with the person with dementia, anxiety symptoms and perceived social support. In addition, RSS was associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in the people with dementia.

Conclusion

Our findings underline the importance of obtaining knowledge about the next of kin’s burden of care and QoL, of people with dementia attending an FDC. This knowledge is essential for those responsible for providing the best possible services for the next of kin and for developing targeted interventions to support the next of kin.

Keywords:

• dementia
• family caregiver
• adult day care service
• green care

Acknowledgments

The study was funded by a grant from the Research Council of Norway, grant number 255033. The authors will thank the researchers for their valuable contribution to the data collection: Tanja Lovise Ibsen, Bjørnar Finnanger Garshol, Marit Fossberg, Elin Aarø Strandli, Anne Julie Storheil, Lina Harvold Ellingsen-Dalskau, and Grete Patil. We thank the next of kin and the people with dementia for their participation and for making this study possible. We also thank the health professionals in the municipalities and the farm providers for their valuable assistance in the project.

Disclosure

This work is funded by a grant from the Research Council of Norway (No 255033). The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.