Research in Community and Public Health Nursing

Original Article

The Burden of Aged Parents Caring for Adult Children with Disabilities: Min Hyun Suk, Eun Hye Kim; J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2010;21(4):439-447. Published online December 31, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2010.21.4.439

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
This study was to describe the burden of aged parents caring for adult children with disabilities and related factors.
METHODS
The subjects were 123 caregivers aged over 65 who were caring for 18-year-old or older children with disabilities. The research tool of this study was a structured questionnaire on family burden. Data were collected from June 3 to 25, 2010, and analyzed by Cronbach's alpha, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA using SAS 9.2 program.
RESULTS
The major findings of this study were as follows. Elderly parents caring for adult children with disabilities perceived a moderate level of burden. The burden from concern over their children's future was highest, and economic and physical burdens were higher when the parents were younger. Burden was significantly different according to parents' characteristics such as gender, perceived health status, disease, the costs of caring for disabled children, and children's characteristics such as disability rating, health status, and ADL.
CONCLUSION
In order to reduce the burden of elderly parents caring for adult children with disabilities, we need to improve their health status and assess comprehensive policies.

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