What impacts on the stress symptoms of Parkinson’s carers? Results from the Parkinson’s UK Members’ Survey

Abstract

Purpose: Caring for a patient with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is stressful and has a significant impact on the carer’s physical and mental health. This article is aimed at assessing which characteristics are most frequently associated with the stress symptoms of PD carers. Method: Data from the Parkinson’s UK Members’ Survey were drawn from 1881 valid self-completion surveys, filled in by carers of a patient with PD. Results: The carers, 95.6% of whom were a first-degree relative, reported an average of 2.7 ± 3.1 stress-related symptoms. In multiple regression analysis, a greater number of symptoms were associated (p < 0.01) with: the more tasks that the carer carried out (β = 0.35), an increased number of carer’s co-morbidities (0.22) and worsening financial status (0.16). Conclusions: It is important to consider the health of both the patient with PD as well as that of the family carer to reduce the impact of caring activity on the carer’s stress.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Families constitute an important source of care. Caring for a first-degree relative with PD is one of the determinants of having stress problems.

• Stress symptoms are mostly related to the amount of assistance that the carer is required to provide, their general medical condition and their financial situation.

• To reduce the impact of caring activity on the carer’s stress symptoms, it is important to consider both the total number of assistance tasks that are carried out for the patient with Parkinson’s as well as the carer’s co-morbidity. Multidisciplinary teams can play an important role in identifying the sources of family stress, offering family-centred interventions and referral to appropriate resources of assistance.

• Co-morbidity
• family carers
• Parkinson’s disease

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all of the people who participated in the Parkinson’s UK Members’ Survey 2007.