Aim: This study examined the factors associated with burdens on the primary caregivers of community-dwelling disabled people.
Methods: Participants were 78 disabled people (40 men, 38 women; mean age 77.8+/-11.5 years) who received home-based physical therapy and/or occupational therapy, and their 78 caregivers (20 men, 58 women; mean age 66.8+/-10.2 years). The caregiver burden was assessed using the short version of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J-ZBI_8). In addition, the primary caregivers completed questionnaires about burdens arising from supporting the activities of daily living (ADL) using a visual analogue scale, available social support, subjective well-being, and the Motor Fitness Scale. The performance of the disabled subjects was assessed using the Bedside Mobility Scale and the Barthel Index. The disabled subjects and the caregivers were divided into higher burden (J-ZBI_8 score, 10 points and over) and lower burden groups (J-ZBI_8 score, 9 points and under) to compare the group differences in the measurements.
Results: The disabled participants in the lower burden group (n=41) showed significantly higher Bedside Mobility Scale scores and Barthel Index scores than those in the higher burden group (n=37). The primary caregivers in the higher burden group showed significantly higher burden due to supporting the ADL, lower subjective well-being, and lower social support as compared to those in the lower-burden group.
Conclusion: The burden levels of the primary caregivers relating to the mobility and ADL of their recipients were assessed. The caregivers with higher burden showed less social support and low subjective well-being.