Caregiving burden and healthcare utilization in family caregivers of people with dementia: Long term impact of the public family caregiver intervention

Despite community-based interventions to decrease the caregiving burden on family caregivers of people with dementia (PwD), long-term assessment of community-based public programs is lacking. Therefore, the study aims to identify the long-term effects of community-based dementia caregiver intervention on the caregiving burden and healthcare utilization among family caregivers for PwD. Additionally, we investigated the predictors of caregiving burden and healthcare utilization. Of the participants, 32 (76%) intervention and 15 (38%) control groups responded to the one-year follow-up. We assessed caregiver burden using the short -form Zarit Burden Interview (sZBI) and collected healthcare utilization data using questionnaire at baseline and 12 months. Compared with the control group, the intervention group did not experience a reduction in caregiving burden and healthcare utilization. Predictors of caregivers' perceived burden were spouses as the primary caregiver and having multiple comorbidities. The predictors identified in this study should be con-sidered when implementing public family support programs.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Despite the implementation of community-based interventions for family caregivers of people with dementia, a long-term assessment of these programs is lacking. This study aimed to identify the long-term effects of a community-based dementia caregiver intervention on caregiver burden and healthcare utilization, as well as explore predictors of burden and utilization. The findings showed that the intervention group did not experience a reduction in burden or utilization compared to the control group. Predictors of perceived burden included being a spouse caregiver and having multiple comorbidities. These predictors should be considered when implementing public family support programs.