Research Article

Disagreement in preference for residential care between family caregivers and elders is greater among cognitively impaired elders group than cognitively intact elders group

  1. Pui Hing Chau1,*,
  2. Timothy Kwok2,
  3. Jean Woo2,
  4. Felix Chan3,
  5. Elsie Hui4,
  6. Kam Che Chan2

Article first published online: 23 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/gps.2296

Issue

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Volume 25, Issue 1, pages 46–54, January 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chau, P. H., Kwok, T., Woo, J., Chan, F., Hui, E. and Chan, K. C. (2010), Disagreement in preference for residential care between family caregivers and elders is greater among cognitively impaired elders group than cognitively intact elders group. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25: 46–54. doi: 10.1002/gps.2296

Author Information

  1. 1

    Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, China

  2. 2

    Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China

  3. 3

    Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China

  4. 4

    Medical & Geriatric Unit, Shatin Hospital, Hong Kong, China

*Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, China.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 23 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 16 MAR 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 28 OCT 2008

Funded by

  • Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

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Keywords:

  • residential care;
  • old age home;
  • elders;
  • cognitive impairment;
  • depression;
  • caregiver burden

Abstract

Objectives

This study examined the predictive factors of preference for residential care in cognitively intact and impaired elders and their family caregivers. It was hypothesized that disagreement in preference for residential care between the elders and their caregivers was greater in the cognitively impaired.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during June 2007 to March 2008 in Hong Kong, and 707 community-dwelling elders aged 65 and above and 705 family caregivers were interviewed. Cognitively impaired elders were over-sampled to give reliable estimates for that sub-group. A structural questionnaire was used to collect data on preference for residential care and potential factors. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors.

Results

More cognitively impaired elder-caregiver dyads (37.4%) had disagreement in preference for residential care than cognitively intact elder-caregiver dyads (20.5%) (p < .001). From the elders' perspective, less preference for residential care was associated with cognitive impairment, whereas greater preference was associated with depression (for cognitively intact elders), more usage of community service and functional impairment. From the caregivers' perspective, greater preference for residential care was associated with greater caregiver burden, or care-recipients having cognitive or functional impairment, or more usage of community services.

Conclusions

Cognitively intact elders were more likely to indicate preference for residential care than cognitively impaired elders. Elders, both cognitively intact and impaired, were less likely than their caregivers to indicate preference for residential care. Disagreement in preference for residential care between the elders and their caregivers was larger for the cognitively impaired group than the cognitively intact group. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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