HEALTH OF ELDERLY MALE DEPENDENT-CARE AGENTS FOR A SPOUSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (CAREGIVERS, OREM).
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 157
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.
Description: Several studies have noted a substantial number of men who are primary caregivers for their wives. Research that specifically examines elderly males or have a majority of men in the sample who care for their spouses is sparse, limiting what is known. Fewer studies have investigated physical and mental health using a comparison group of noncaregivers matched demographically.

Using Orem's theory of self-care deficit as a guiding framework, a comparative survey design was used to explore the specific areas of emotional and physical problems in men in a dependent-care agent role (n = 52) for a wife with Alzheimer's disease and married men of similar age ($\overline\□rm X □$= 74 years), education ($\overline\□rm X □$= 13 years), race (100% white), sex-role identity and marital status who did not have to provide care for a wife (n = 53). The Activities of Daily Living Scale and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale were used to measure patient disabilities. Sex-role identity of each subject was measured using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI).

The results of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), a measure of psychological distress, and the Cornell Medical Index (CMI), a measure of physical health symptoms, are reported. Self-rated health, number of doctor visits during the past year, and number of psychotropic medications used were also included as measures of physical health. The hypotheses were examined using multivariate analysis of variance. The results indicated a significant overall group effect for both the BSI (F(9,95) = 2.60, p =.01) and CMI (F(11, 93) = 2.05 (p =.0319).

One subcategory of the BSI, depression, indicated a significant difference between the groups. The husbands in a caregiving role had significantly higher depression scores than noncaregiving husbands.

The subcategories of Health Habits and Respiratory Symptoms on the CMI were the only ones significantly different. Dependent-care agents had a significantly higher score in both subcategories.

Although the physical health of the dependent-care agents was affected by the caregiving experience, the caregivers were not in poor physical health. However, mental health was affected. Maintenance and assessment of physical and mental health for dependent-care agents should be a priority for health care workers.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-09, Section: B, page: 4589.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1992.

School code: 0005.