Factors influencing the employed caregiver burden for patients with dementia residing in nursing homes: A cross-sectional study from China

Abstract

Objective

The institutionalization of care for patients with dementia is becoming a trend. Understanding the burden on employed caregivers and exploring associated factors are of great importance in practice. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between basic attributes, caring ability, and caregiver burden in employed caregivers practicing in nursing homes.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 541 employed caregivers in 11 four-star nursing homes in Zhejiang Province from April to December 2022. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Demographic characteristics of participants, characteristics of the older patients with dementia, caring characteristics, training in dementia care, and caring abilities were collected for analysis of influencing factors. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to explore the factors influencing the burden on employed caregivers in nursing homes.

Results

The ZBI score of employed caregivers in nursing homes was 40.42 ± 10.18, representing a moderate caregiver burden. Factors such as age (U = 27.82, P < 0.001), residence (U = 7.89, P < 0.001), educational level (H = 55.81, P < 0.001), self-care of older patients with dementia (H = 85.21, P < 0.001), daily care hours (H = 73.25, P < 0.001), number of older people with dementia cared for (H = 14.56, P = 0.012) and training in dementia care (U = −9.43, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with caregiver burden.Caring ability was negatively associated with caregiver burden (r = −0.22, P < 0.01). Furthermore, after controlling for demographic characteristics, the characteristics of older people with dementia, caring characteristics, training in dementia care, and caring ability explained 8.5%, 5.8%, and 4.8% of the caregiver burden, respectively.

Conclusion

The burden of employed caregivers on patients with dementia in nursing homes can be attributed to various factors. We recommend tailored interventions, such as dementia care training and reviewing the number and duration of hours worked to reduce the burden experienced by caregivers.