Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the experience of caring for a person with Parkinson's disease. The study looked at health and psychosocial outcomes of caring and access to and perceived understanding of health professionals and support services. A 34-item survey was administered to a convenience sample of carers of people with Parkinson's disease obtained through Parkinson's New South Wales Inc., an Australian state-based non-profit community organization. In total, 303 responses were received from primary caregivers. Female carers reported higher levels of psychosocial sequelae as a result of caring for a person with Parkinson's disease than male respondents. Despite a range of support services available, carers did not widely avail themselves of these. In conclusion, caring for a person with Parkinson's disease is a complex undertaking. While the person with Parkinson's disease requires ongoing support, the needs of the carer must not be underestimated or ignored.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
Keywords
- Parkinson's disease
- brain
- diseases
- caregivers
- services for
- Australia