Study: Caregivers Under Greater Financial Strain in Developing World

Caregivers for dementia patients are under much greater financial strain in developing countries because there are little or no support systems, according to psychiatrists from Thrissur Medical College in Kerala, India and the Institute of Psychiatry in London, England.

In a study of dementia diagnosis and care arrangements in the developing world, researchers speculate that as global aging rises significantly in the next two decades, international aid agencies and government programs need to make mental health in the elderly a priority.

The study, presented at the Tenth Congress of the International Psychogeriatric Association, said identifying patients with dementia in the developing world is complicated by low levels of education and high levels of depression among caregivers.

"Interestingly, however, we found that the more overcrowded the home, with extended families all living under the same roof, the less is the strain, as the responsibility for taking care of the person with dementia is shared," said Dr. K. S. Shaji, co-author of the study.

The study, funded by the World Health Organization, is entering its second phase and will look at risk factors and the prevalence of dementia, as well as training in care-giving and strategies for interventions by healthcare workers.

Other sources: International Psychogeriatric Association