Sleep in dementia and caregiving : the impact of respite care

• Main Author: Lee, David R.
• Published: Loughborough University 2005
• Subjects: 362.10425
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.420154

In order to investigate the relationship between the sleep of older people WIth dementia and their caregivers and the Impact of respite care on the sleep of these groups: 68 dyads who were approached to participate m this actigraphic sleep study. Agreement to partiCIpate in the study was given by 40 caregtvers QuestionnaIre and sleep dIary data were retrieved from all 40 caregivers Owing to non-compliance and technology faIlures: 36 careglvers and 34 care recipIents provided data at baseline, 34 careglvers and 32 care recIpients successfully completed the respite period of the study and 31 care givers and 30 care recIpients finished the entire study protocol. Analyses revealed that caregivers experienced clinically dIsturbed sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Health-related quality ofhfe scores revealed that caregivers experienced reduced mental health; social functiomng; and energy/vitahty scores compared to the general population. The princIpal effects of respIte care servIces indIcated that caregivers experienced significantly increased total sleep time (p = 0.002) and signIficantly reduced nocturnal activity levels (p = 0.001) during penods of respIte care. Careglver subjectively rated feelings of wellbeing were positively impacted by respite care (p =0.011). Care recIpIents expenenced SIgnificant decreases m total sleep time dunng respIte (p =0.016) and increased nocturnal activity levels. There was a hIgh correlation between caregiver and care recipIent total sleep time (p = 0 005). Post dIscharge, both caregivers and care recipIents expenenced reduced sleep outcomes compared to baseline levels, indlcatmg dIfficulties m readapting to the caregiving role in careglvers and to sleeping in the commumty post-respite m care recIpients. These findmgs suggest that respite care services lead to improvements in caregiver sleep that may extend care in the community. There are implications for Improved management of dementia care recipients post-dIscharge, partICularly in terms of supportmg careglvers in the commumty. ExaminatIOn of disturbance factors in the hospital from the perspective of dementia care recipients are discussed.