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Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Malhotra, C; Huynh, VA; Østbye, T; Malhotra, R
Published in: J Aging Soc Policy
April 7, 2023

Adult child caregivers of persons with severe dementia (PWSDs) experience absenteeism due to caregiving. We quantified employed adult child caregivers' absenteeism; its association with PWSDs' functional impairment and health shocks; and characteristics of caregivers not experiencing absenteeism in the presence of PWSDs' health shocks and high functional impairment. We used a prospective cohort of 111 employed adult child caregivers of community-dwelling PWSDs in Singapore surveyed every 4 months for 1 year. We calculated absenteeism days due to caregiving and the corresponding absenteeism cost. Findings showed that 43% of the caregivers experienced absenteeism due to caregiving at least once during 1 year. On average, in a month, caregivers experienced 2.3 (SD = 5.9) absenteeism days and S$758 (SD = 2120) absenteeism cost. Those caring for PWSDs with high functional impairment experienced an additional 2.5 absenteeism days and S$788 absenteeism cost versus caregivers of PWSDs with low functional impairment. Caregivers whose PWSDs experienced a health shock experienced an additional 1.8 absenteeism days and S$772 absenteeism cost versus caregivers of PWSDs without a health shock. Co-residence with PWSDs worsened the impact of PSWDs' high functional impairment on caregivers absenteeism. Caregivers not co-residing with PWSDs and not using a maladaptive coping style were less likely to experience absenteeism when caring for PWSDs with a health shock. Results suggest a need to support caregivers of PWSDs to better cope with their caregiving in order to mitigate caregivers' absenteeism.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

J Aging Soc Policy

DOI

EISSN

1545-0821

Publication Date

April 7, 2023

Start / End Page

1 / 18

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Gerontology
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1607 Social Work
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Malhotra, C., Huynh, V. A., Østbye, T., & Malhotra, R. (2023). Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia. J Aging Soc Policy, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2023.2196232
Malhotra, Chetna, Vinh Anh Huynh, Truls Østbye, and Rahul Malhotra. “Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia.J Aging Soc Policy, April 7, 2023, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2023.2196232.
Malhotra C, Huynh VA, Østbye T, Malhotra R. Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia. J Aging Soc Policy. 2023 Apr 7;1–18.
Malhotra, Chetna, et al. “Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia.J Aging Soc Policy, Apr. 2023, pp. 1–18. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/08959420.2023.2196232.
Malhotra C, Huynh VA, Østbye T, Malhotra R. Caregivers' Absenteeism and Its Association With Health Shocks and Functional Impairment Among Persons With Severe Dementia. J Aging Soc Policy. 2023 Apr 7;1–18.

Published In

J Aging Soc Policy

DOI

EISSN

1545-0821

Publication Date

April 7, 2023

Start / End Page

1 / 18

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Gerontology
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1607 Social Work
  • 1605 Policy and Administration