STRESS AMONG PRIMARY CAREGIVERS IN CARING FOR DEMENTIA PATIENT

Abstract

Background: Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide because itaffects the capacity to remember, ability to think abstractly, language functions, orientation to time and place, appropriate judgement and consequently, personality changes of dementia sufferer. Consequently, dementia sufferer will lose their functional capacity for independence. Under this circumstance,dementia sufferer will require assistance in their daily activities and personal care. Generally, the family members will be the primary caregivers that provide the caregiving role to the dementia sufferer. Therefore, caring for a dependent dementia sufferer may cause the negative effects on physical, psychological, psychosocial, social and financial health of caregivers which can lead stress among the primary caregivers.Objective: The main objective of this study is to measure the stress level among primary caregivers in caring for dementia patient in one of the public hospitals in Kuala Lumpur.Research Method: This is a cross-sectional study. This study will be conducted with apurposive sampling methodwhich is a non-probability sample of primary caregivers, whose caring for dementia patient in one of the public hospitals in Kuala Lumpur. The sample size estimated for this study is 66 of primary caregivers whose is caring for dementia patient. Analysis: Mean and percentage will be used to analyse descriptive data, while Chi-square will be performed for inferential data. Expected outcomes: This study is focus on the stress that the primary caregivers are facing during providing the caregiving of a person with dementia. So, from this study it will be enable the practitioner to not only find ways to help the primary caregivers from the stress of caregiving, but also to measure the effectiveness of interventions that seek to mitigate the stressof caregiving.