Abstract
Caregivers of elderly patients suffering from chronic illnesses are at increased risk of health problems themselves. In India, caregivers of elderly patients are usually close family members. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the burden on caregivers of elderly medical and psychiatric patients. A total of 60 elderly patients and their caregivers (30 patients and 30 caregivers in each group) were included in the study. Burden on the caregivers of elderly psychiatric patients was significantly more than that of caregivers of elderly medical patients and worsens with the deterioration of general health and quality of life of elderly patients and with increasing age and duration of care giving. Proper intervention to reduce the burden among the caregivers of elderly patients, particularly psychiatric patients, should be routinely incorporated for the betterment of both the patients and caregivers.
Keywords: caregiver burden, elderly, psychiatric.
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Corresponding Author
Vishal Sinha
Department of Psychiatry, SN Medical College, Agra, UP, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i2.145
