PATTERNS OF CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN CANADA

This paper describes patterns of caring for people aged 65 or over wit h dementia in Canada, and the relationship this has with the well-bein g of caregivers. Data were drawn from a representative sample of elder ly people, selected from the community and from institutions in the te n provinces of Canada as part of the Canadian Study of Health and Agin g (CSHA). Interviews were held with the caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia, and with a comparison group of caregivers for non-deme nted persons. About half of all people with dementia in Canada are liv ing in the community, and our results show that over 98 per cent of th em have a caregiver. The caregivers in 94 per cent of these cases are unpaid family members, relatives or friends: the spouse in 37 per cent of cases and a daughter in 29 per cent. Caregivers rarely use communi ty support services. Among those caring for someone in the community, those caring for a person with dementia are more likely to experience chronic health problems and depressive symptoms than are those caring for a non-demented elderly person. Those caring for a person in the co mmunity are much more likely to feel burdened than those whose loved o ne is in an institution, even though those who are institutionalized a re more likely to suffer from severe dementia. These national figures support many of the findings reported from smaller, localized studies. The findings suggest that long-term care institutions are serving a r ole for Canada's seniors, particularly for the most demented, and that caregivers often provide care for loved ones even when suffering from chronic health conditions, depression, and burden themselves.