Measurement of Care-Related Needs of Family Members Caring for Demented Elderly Patients at Home

Abstract

To develop a scale for measuring the needs of family caregivers of the elderly with Dementia, and to determine its reliability and validity, a questionnaire was mailed to 465 family caregivers out of which 237 respondents replied. A secondary structural model consisting of six factors with 23 items was also given. The results were found to be statistically significant and Internal consistency of the 23 items showed high reliability (Cronbach's α=0.885). Also, the needs score correlated with the needs of the family caregivers using a Corrected Item Total Correlation (CITC). Theses results suggest that the needs scale may be valid for assessing a family caregiver's needs.