%0 Journal Article
%T Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Caregivers of People with Parkinson's Disease and Implications for Clinical Guidelines
%A D. Morley
%A S. Dummett
%A M. Peters
%A L. Kelly
%A P. Hewitson
%A J. Dawson
%A R. Fitzpatrick
%A C. Jenkinson
%J Parkinson's Disease
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/190901
%X The quality of life (QoL) of informal caregivers can be adversely affected by a number of factors. This issue, however, has not been well explored for carers of people with Parkinson's (PwP), with research largely restricted to the assessment of caregiver burden and caregiver strain. This study aims to determine the main influences on carer QoL in this population and consider results in the context of current clinical guidelines for the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). Carers completed the newly validated PDQ-Carer, and PwP completed the PDQ-39. The sample comprised 238 carers (mean age 68.20 years) and 238£¿PwP (mean age 71.64). Results suggest multiple influences on caregiver QoL. These include carer age, gender, health status, and duration of the caregiving role. PwP levels of mobility and cognitive impairment are also significant influences on carer QoL. Not only should practitioners and service providers be particularly aware of the heightened impact of PD on carers over time and as PwP symptoms deteriorate, but this should also be reflected in clinical guidelines for the management of PD. 1. Introduction The savings to the United Kingdom (UK) government from the care provided by an estimated six million unpaid informal carers is substantial [1], with one estimate suggesting it may be as great as ¡ê119 billion annually [2]. The profile of such carers has been raised significantly in recent years as the pressures facing them are considerable; 77% report deterioration in health as a direct result of their caregiving role [3]. With an ageing population, such pressures are likely to increase, and it has been suggested that, by 2017, the demands on informal carers will be outweighed by what they can realistically provide [4]. Such a context highlights the importance of not only identifying the needs of carers, but also ensuring that these needs are reflected in guidance purporting to set the highest standards for healthcare and healthy living. The features of a particular condition affecting a patient are likely, in part, to determine the impact on their carer [5]. Parkinson¡¯s disease (PD), for example, is a chronic progressive condition characterised by tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity [6]. People with Parkinson¡¯s disease (PwP) are also susceptible to psychiatric symptoms such as depression, hallucinations, and confusion, as well as the likelihood of falls and freezing of gait as the condition progresses [7]. To date, the impact of maintaining a caregiving role for people with PwP has been largely restricted to the assessment of caregiver burden
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/2012/190901/