Alzheimer's Caregiving Appraisal

• Main Author: Fortier, Andre'
• Other Authors: Daphne Cain
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: LSU 2008
• Subjects: Social Work
• Online Access: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07092008-173122/

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge base of AD caregiving appraisal by understanding a connection of factors that influence caregiving appraisal. It is important for the profession of social work to understand the complexities which may impact the level of care and/or appraisal. A combination of research questions and hypotheses were devised to determine the influence of each factor and/or a combination of factors on caregiving appraisal. The survey comprises of six sections: demographics and stage of AD, burden, resilience, family strengths, ethnic awareness, and caregiving appraisal. The overall survey was designed by the researcher; yet, each of the subsections, except for demographics and stage of AD, were instruments created by other researchers (Hopkins, Kilik, & Day, 2006; Sinclair & Wallston, 2004; Maton et al., 1996; Ponterotto et al., 2003; Farran, Miller, Kaufman, Donner, and Fogg, 1999). Permission to disseminate the surveys was obtained from the Alzheimers Services of the Capital Area (Baton Rouge, LA). The sampling frame is all caregivers who attended support groups at the above mentioned program. With the analysis of results it was determined that ethnic identity awareness had a positive and significant correlation to the following: caregiving appraisal and resilience. Also, burden was shown not to have a significant correlation to caregiving appraisal. Furthermore, a positive significant difference was found between mid/moderate stage and late/severe stage on caregiving appraisal. Finally, it was determined that the factors counted for more than half of the variance found in the current study.