PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS

The primary caregivers (mean age = 63 yr.) of 28 terminally ill vetera ns (mean age = 67 yr.) who were living at home were surveyed for their concrete and psychosocial needs. The caregivers also completed the Be ck Depression Inventory, the Life Satisfaction Index, the Provision of Social Relations scale, and the Burden Inventory. The rank order of c oncrete and psychosocial needs is reported for these caregivers. Incre ased scores on depression were associated with decreased life satisfac tion as was low social support. Not surprisingly, higher numbers of co ncrete and psychosocial needs were associated with increases in depres sion.