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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2011 May;26(3):205–211. doi: 10.1177/1533317511400307

Determinants of the Desire to Institutionalize in Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Damien Gallagher 1, Aine Ni Mhaolain 2, Lisa Crosby 3, Deirdre Ryan 4, Loretto Lacey 5, Robert F Coen 6, Cathal Walsh 7, Davis Coakley 8, J Bernard Walsh 9, Conal Cunningham 10, Brian A Lawlor 11
PMCID: PMC10845488  PMID: 21378063

Abstract

Background: The desire to institutionalize is an important predictor of future institutionalization. Few studies have examined potentially modifiable caregiver characteristics which might be the focus of future interventional strategies. Methods: A total of 102 patient/caregiver dyads with Alzheimer’s disease (n = 84) or mild cognitive impairment were recruited through a memory clinic. Cross-sectional analyses of a range of patients, caregivers, and context of care-related characteristics were conducted. Results: Caregiver desire to institutionalize was significantly associated with a number of potentially modifiable variables including caregiver coping style, self-efficacy, depression, burden, and the presence of an unmet service need. In a multivariate analysis, caregiver burden, depression, and nonspousal status were the only significant independent predictors of caregiver desire to institutionalize in a model which correctly classified 80.4% of caregivers. Conclusions: Interventions which seek to reduce caregiver desire to institutionalize should adopt a multifactorial approach to reduce symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, institutionalization, burden, depression

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Contributor Information

Damien Gallagher, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, gallagherdamien@hotmail.com .

Aine Ni Mhaolain, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Lisa Crosby, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Deirdre Ryan, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Loretto Lacey, Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, Lower Grand Canal St., Dublin, Ireland.

Robert F. Coen, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Cathal Walsh, Department of Statistics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Davis Coakley, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

J. Bernard Walsh, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Conal Cunningham, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Brian A. Lawlor, Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

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