%0 Journal Article
%T Caregiver Experiences Across Three Neurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer¡¯s, Parkinson¡¯s, and Parkinson¡¯s With Dementia
%A Kaitlyn P. Roland
%A Neena L. Chappell
%J Journal of Aging and Health
%@ 1552-6887
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0898264317729980
%X Objective: This article asks whether distinct caregiver experiences of Alzheimer¡¯s disease (AD), Parkinson¡¯s disease (PD), and Parkinson¡¯s disease with dementia (PDD) spouses are accounted for by disease diagnosis or by a unique combination of symptoms, demands, support, and quality of life (QOL) cross disease groups. Method: One hundred five live-in spouse caregivers (71.4 ¡À 7 years) were surveyed for persons with AD (39%), PD (41%), and PDD (20%). A hierarchical cluster analysis organized caregivers across disease diagnosis into clusters with similar symptom presentation, care demands, support, and QoL. Results: Four clusters cut across disease diagnosis. ¡°Succeeding¡± cared for mild symptoms and had emotional support. ¡°Coping¡± managed moderate stressors and utilized formal supports. ¡°Getting by with support¡± and ¡°Struggling¡± had the greatest stressors; available emotional support influenced whether burden/depression was moderate or severe. The results remain the same when diagnostic category is added to the cluster analysis. Discussion: This study supports going beyond disease diagnosis when examining caregiver experiences
%K dementia caregiving
%K quality of life
%K burden
%K expressive support
%K neurodegenerative disease
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0898264317729980