Table 1.
Respondents’ background characteristics (informal caregivers)
| Measurement % (n) | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 | Model 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | At start of case management (T1) | At start of case management (T1) | At start of case management (T1) | At start of case management (T1) |
| % (n = 140) | % (n = 140) | % (n = 138) | % (n = 126) | |
| Men | 23 % | 24 % | 25 % | 30 % |
| Women | 77 % | 76 % | 75 % | 70 % |
| Age | ||||
| Younger than 55 | 38 % | 34 % | 32 % | 30 % |
| 55–75 | 38 % | 38 % | 37 % | 39 % |
| 75 or older | 24 % | 28 % | 31 % | 31 % |
| Average age (range) | 61.1 (35–88 years) | 63.0 (30–88 years) | 64.3 (33–87 years) | 64.6 (27–92 years) |
| Relationship to person with dementia | ||||
| Partner | 40 % | 48 % | 43 % | 51 % |
| Daughter(−in-law)/Son(−in-law) | 54 % | 46 % | 47 % | 42 % |
| Brother/sister/other relative | 3 % | 3 % | 6 % | 4 % |
| Friend, acquaintance, neighbour | 3 % | 3 % | 4 % | 3 % |
| Perceived health | ||||
| Excellent/very good/good | 65 % | 66 % | 67 % | 62 % |
| Moderate | 34 % | 31 % | 30 % | 35 % |
| Poor | 1 % | 3 % | 3 % | 3 % |
| Duration of informal care | ||||
| Less than 1 year | 23 % | 24 % | 38 % | 37 % |
| 1 to 3 years | 40 % | 47 % | 41 % | 37 % |
| 3 to 5 years | 23 % | 15 % | 13 % | 13 % |
| 5 years or longer | 14 % | 14 % | 8 % | 13 % |
The number of personal face-to-face contacts with the case manager of the total group varied: in this study, 39 % of the informal carers had contact with the case manager three times or less in the first year after the start of case management (not in table). Nearly half of the informal carers (48 %) had had four to ten face-to-face contacts with the case manager, and 13 % of the informal carers had had more face-to-face contacts with the case manager during the first year of case management (not in table). Face-to-face contacts with the case manager (mainly at the home of the person with dementia) were often combined with e-mail or telephone contacts ‘as needed’