Impact of caregiver demands on growing family capabilities provide home care for dementia-affected seniors

BACKGROUND: The elderly with dementia occur cognitive decline and they are considered normal by the family, and then causing the need for care from elderly. This is not following the ability of home care by the family as an informal caregiver for the elderly with dementia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of caregiver demands on the ability of families to do home care for elderly dementia.

DESIGN AND METHODS: An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. The sample size is 100 respondents with a cluster random sampling technique. Data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed using SEM-PLS.

RESULTS: Caregiver demands have a direct effect on increasing the family's ability to do home care for elderly dementia with a p-value = 0.011 (p ≤ 0.05), t statistic value of 2.557 (≥1.96). Caregiver demands have four indicators, including care receiver impairment, caregiving activities, competency of caregivers, and caregiver/family relationship with elderly dementia. The condition of the elderly who experience various changes supports the increasing need for care to receive care and recovery as well as special attention from the family.

CONCLUSION: The higher the need for care, the higher the family's ability to do home care. This research implies that the family has a duty in the health sector to provide care for the elderly at home/home care, which strengthens the need for care, this supports caregiver empowerment and increases the independence of the elderly with dementia.