EXISTENTIAL SUFFERING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AMONG DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS RECEIVING COLLABORATIVE CARE

The presence of suffering and psychological strain among dementia family caregivers is well-documented. Literature highlights successful interventions aimed at reducing these outcomes. One evidence-based intervention that has been translated into practice is dementia collaborative care, which has been shown to reduce caregiver depression and burden and reduce behavioral symptoms of dementia that can contribute to caregiver strain. Despite this evidence, it is unknown if dementia collaborative care has an impact on caregivers’ suffering. This study measured the level of suffering of 50 caregivers who have received dementia collaborative care from the Aging Brain Care program in Indianapolis, IN ≥1 year. Psychological symptoms and existential suffering was measured with 24 items from the Experience of Suffering Measure. Caregivers averaged 62.7 years old, 78% female, 53% African American and 46% are the adult child and 76% see the person with dementia daily. 58% are married and 50% share the caregiving responsibilities with at least one other person. The length of time caregiving ranged from 28% with ≤2 years to 42% with ≥4 years. The mean psychological symptoms score was 6.8 and existential suffering 6. In fixed effects models, caregivers who did not share caregiving responsibilities had significantly higher psychological symptoms and more existential suffering than those who do share (p=0.05). Caregivers who are receiving support from a dementia collaborative care model do experience psychological symptoms and existential suffering, but at lower rates than previously reported among those not receiving collaborative care. Being able to share the caregiving has an association with suffering.