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Family involvement following institutionalization: modeling nursing home visits over time
Joseph E Gaugler1, Steven H Zarit, Leonard I Pearlin
1Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0086, USA. jgaugle@uky.edu
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|May 21, 2004
Summary
Family caregiver visits to nursing homes vary significantly over time. Spousal caregivers, care recipients
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Gerontological research highlights the importance of family involvement after loved ones are institutionalized.
- Existing studies often lack longitudinal data, limiting understanding of how family visits evolve over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine predictors of nursing home visits over a two-year period using growth curve analysis.
- To understand changes in family involvement following the institutionalization of dementia patients.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 65 caregivers of dementia patients.
- Growth curve analysis to model changes in nursing home visits over two years.
- Assessment of preplacement and postplacement factors influencing visit frequency.
Main Results:
- Significant heterogeneity observed in individual patterns of family visits.
- Spousal caregivers and care recipients with greater cognitive impairment predicted increased visits.
- Perceived social support correlated with increased visits, while socially restorative activities correlated with decreased visits.
Conclusions:
- Family visits to nursing homes are dynamic and influenced by multiple factors.
- Caregiver-recipient relationship, recipient's cognitive status, and caregiver's social context impact long-term involvement.
- Findings offer a nuanced view of sustained family engagement post-institutionalization.