DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN CHILD CAREGIVERS OF VERY OLD MEXICAN AMERICANS

• Published in: Innovation in aging 2017-07, Vol.1 (suppl_1), p.420-421
• Main Authors: Flores, D.V., Rote, S., Angel, J.L., Chen, N., Downer, B., Markides, K.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.1513

Objective: To study the effects of disability, cognitive impairment, and neuropsychiatric disturbance among older Mexican Americans on depressive symptoms in their children caregivers. Methods: This study utilizes data from Wave 7 (2010–11) of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to assess caregivers that provided direct personal care with activities of daily living (ADL) and who were children of the care recipient. Two hundred adult caregivers provided direct personal care (e.g., bathing, toileting, dressing, etc.) to their older parents (average age = 87). We analyzed the influence of ADL disability, cognition (MMSE), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI) on depressive symptoms of the adult child caregiver. A cross-sectional multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of neuropsychiatric disturbance on caregiver depressive symptoms. Results: ADL disability of the care recipient, cognitive functioning of the care recipient, and caregiver health status alone did not have a significant effect on depressive symptoms of the caregiver but NPI of the care-recipient did. Not being married, high perceived social stress, and caregiver-assessed NPI of the care recipient had a significant effect on caregiver depressive symptoms. Conclusions: In a Mexican American familistic culture, disability and cognitive impairment might be better tolerated by families but neuropsychiatric behavioral symptoms related to dementia may take an increased toll on family member caregivers. The need to provide respite services, mental health resources and community services for caregivers of care recipients with neuropsychiatric dysfunction is of paramount importance to alleviate depressive symptoms and burden among caregivers.