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The Burden of Caring for Dependent Older People and the Resultant Risk of Depression in Family Primary Caregivers in Italy

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  • Cristina Gagliardi

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Flavia Piccinini

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Giovanni Lamura

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Georgia Casanova

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy
    Instituto de Investigación en Políticas de Bienestar Social (POLIBIENESTAR)-Research Institute on Social Welfare Policy, Universidat de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Paolo Fabbietti

    (Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Marco Socci

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

Long-Term Care (LTC) for older people in need of care is a critical issue affecting the quality of life of family caregivers (as well as older people), encompassing both negative and positive caregiving experiences. Providing support to family caregivers is essential because they play a crucial role in sharing the societal burden of LTC for the growing frail older population. By presenting the results of a survey carried out in 2019–2020 in Central Italy, this study aims to describe the characteristics and estimate by a multivariate logistic model the correlates of depressive symptoms in 369 primary caregivers of dependent older people. Caregivers are mostly women who provide a high amount of care in terms of weekly hours as a result of insufficient assistance from public or private care services. More than half of the sample show depressive symptoms, indicating a fairly serious situation. Perceived burden is a strong predictor of depression. The findings offer suggestions and policy implications. The fragmentation of the care context should be addressed by allocating sufficient funding to expand the supply of public in-kind services and integrate cash-for-care schemes, thus alleviating the burden and mitigating the negative consequences of care on physical and mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Gagliardi & Flavia Piccinini & Giovanni Lamura & Georgia Casanova & Paolo Fabbietti & Marco Socci, 2022. "The Burden of Caring for Dependent Older People and the Resultant Risk of Depression in Family Primary Caregivers in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3375-:d:770396
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anna Giulia Guazzarini & Georgia Casanova & Friederike Buchholz & Mahi Kozori & Sara Lavolpe & Bjørn Lichtwarck & Eleni Margioti & Aline Mendes & Marie-Louise Montandon & Ilenia Murasecco & Janne Myhr, 2022. "The Special Care Unit for People with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (SCU- B) in the Context of the Project “RECage-Respectful Caring for Agitated Elderly”: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.

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