[Four-year follow-up study of self-rated health and life satisfaction among caregivers].

Changes in self-rated health and life satisfaction among caregivers of elderly and factors associated with the changes during a four year were investigated. The sample in the baseline survey consisted of persons randomly selected from recipients of welfare allowances for disabled elderly in two communities in Tokyo. A total of 152 persons were identified as living at home at the time of the first survey and 94 persons were surveyed. In a follow-up survey after a 4-year interval, 73 persons were followed. The main results were as follows: 1. Of the 73 original caregivers, 28 persons continued to give care, and 45 stopped caregiving activities. 2. Among those persons who had been cared for by the 45 caregivers who reported stopping care giving activities, 41 had died and 4 were placed in nursing homes or hospitals. Of the elderly who had died, 60% had been admitted to hospitals, with deterioration of the elderly persons' health being the biggest reason for hospitalization. 3. No significant changes in either self-rated health or life satisfaction were seen after the 4-year interval in those caregivers who continued giving care. Persons who terminated caregiving had an increase in self-rated health in comparison with the original survey. 4. Where self-rated health declined among those continuing giving care, the decrease was related to decrease of cognitive ability of the elderly. A decrease of cognitive ability of the elderly, and also low social support and negative perception regarding caring for the elderly at the baseline survey, was associated with reduction in life satisfaction. 5. Among 45 subjects who terminated caregiving, persons who had low economic backgrounds at baseline, had low improvement of life satisfaction. Persons who did not have jobs had increase in self-rated health.