Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• South Asian (SA) caregivers in the U.S. are an understudied, growing demographic at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.
• This study examines care practices, preferences, and psychological well-being among SA caregivers of older family members.
• Cultural collectivism in SA communities suggests a preference for family-based caregiving.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize caregiving practices among South Asian caregivers in the U.S.
• To understand South Asian caregivers' preferences for future care arrangements.
• To assess the psychological well-being and stress levels of South Asian caregivers.

Main Methods:

• Community outreach and the Asian American caregiver registry (CARES) were utilized for participant recruitment.
• Questionnaires assessed caregiving frequency, involvement, future care preferences (1-5 scale), and caregiver stress/strain (Zarit Burden Interview).

Main Results:

• 14 SA caregivers participated, predominantly first-generation immigrants providing care to parents/in-laws.
• Common care tasks included transportation, medical appointments, cooking, and medication management.
• While 43% desired to live with family in the future, caregiver stress significantly correlated with a preference for living alone/with spouse (r=-.820, p<.001).

Conclusions:

• SA caregivers in the sample primarily co-resided with care recipients.
• Caregiver stress strongly influenced future care preferences, shifting towards living alone/with spouse.
• Culturally tailored interventions are recommended to address the needs of SA caregivers and support their well-being.