Table 6 Frequency of care partner impacts
Impact, n (%) | AD classification | Total (n = 24) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Group 4 (n = 12) | Group 5 (n = 12) | ||
Daily responsibilities are impacted (e.g., needs to supervise and drive patient more, roles have changed, daily chores [e.g., cooking] have been impacted) | 12 (100.0) | 12 (100.0) | 24 (100.0) |
Constant supervision of patient is required | 10 (83.3) | 7 (58.3) | 17 (70.8) |
Mood or emotions have changed | 11 (91.7) | 8 (66.7) | 19 (79.2) |
Feeling bad or guilty more frequently | 5 (41.7) | 2 (16.7) | 7 (29.2) |
Social activities have decreased (e.g., time with friends for lunch/dinner/something fun, parties/celebrations, and family events has decreased) | 10 (83.3) | 9 (75.0) | 19 (79.2) |
Leisure activities have decreased or ceased (e.g., hobbies, travel, going out to eat, or volunteering has decreased or ceased) | 8 (66.7) | 10 (83.3) | 18 (75.0) |
Responsibilities for patient’s bills or money management have increased/financial burden has increased | 9 (75.0) | 9 (75.0) | 18 (75.0) |
Othera | 10 (83.3) | 8 (66.7) | 18 (75.0) |
Assistance with patient’s self-care, cooking, and medications has increased (e.g., showering, making sure patient takes medication, toileting, cooking) | 7 (58.3) | 9 (75.0) | 16 (66.7) |
Assistance with toileting has increased (e.g., taking patient to bathroom, reminding him or her to use the bathroom, cleans up accidents related to incontinence) | 1 (8.3) | 4 (33.3) | 5 (20.8) |
Physical health has suffered (e.g., sleep, diet, exercise, weight gain) | 7 (58.3) | 9 (75.0) | 16 (66.7) |
Prevention of patient driving has become necessary | 6 (50.0) | 8 (66.7) | 14 (58.3) |
Reminders to the patient are more frequent (e.g., reminding more frequently to eat, take medications, and shower and that he/she has appointments) | 9 (75.0) | 4 (33.3) | 13 (54.2) |
Repeating to the patient has become more frequent | 8 (66.7) | 5 (41.7) | 13 (54.2) |
Patient welfare has become an increasing concern (safety concerns [e.g., starting a fire, wandering, house flooding] or fears or the patient being taken advantage of have increased) | 9 (75.0) | 4 (33.3) | 13 (54.2) |
Working or schooling has become impossible or more challenging (e.g., stopped working or decreased hours due to needing to supervise patient, needs to take off more from work/use vacation time/sick days to care for patient, needs to coordinate patient’s care when at work, needs to shift work hours to provide care for patient/needs a flexible job, needs to work or study at home, having trouble finding time to continue schooling) | 7 (58.3) | 5 (41.7) | 12 (50.0) |
Planning and making decisions on behalf of the patient has become necessary | 8 (66.7) | 3 (25.0) | 11 (45.8) |
Moving in/living with the patient was required in order to provide more assistance | 3 (25.0) | 3 (25.0) | 6 (25.0) |
Use of locks, alarms, location-tracking apps, and/or cameras to keep patient safe/prevent disasters (e.g., fires and floods) has become necessary | 2 (16.7) | 3 (25.0) | 5 (20.8) |
In-home professional help is employed | 1 (8.3) | 3 (25.0) | 4 (16.7) |
Future plans and arrangements have been made (e.g., estate planning, retirement, living arrangements, financial plans) | 2 (16.7) | 2 (16.7) | 4 (16.7) |