TY - JOUR
T1 - The well-being of carers of older Aboriginal people living in the Kimberley region of remote Western Australia
T2 - Empowerment, Depression, and Carer Burden
AU - LoGiudice, Dina
AU - Josif, Cathryn M.
AU - Malay, Roslyn
AU - Hyde, Zoë
AU - Haswell, Melissa
AU - Lindeman, Melissa A.
AU - Etherton-Beer, Christopher
AU - Atkinson, David
AU - Bessarab, Dawn
AU - Flicker, Leon
AU - Smith, Kate
N1 - The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support
for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article:
This study was funded by the Department of Health, Australian
Government National Health and Medical Research Council
1045737.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Objective: To describe demographic features and well-being of carers of Aboriginal Australians aged ≥45 years in remote Western Australia. Method: Carer burden, empowerment, and depression were assessed in 124 Aboriginal carers in four remote Aboriginal communities. Results: Carers were aged 38.8 ± 15.0 years, 73.4% were female, and 75.8% were children or grandchildren of the person cared for. The mean Zarit-6 score was 3.7 ± 3.6. Attending high school (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.1, 0.7]) and feeling empowered (OR = 0.2; 95% CI = [0.1, 0.8]) were inversely associated with carer burden; female carers were less likely to feel empowered (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = [0.2, 0.9]); and empowerment was inversely associated with depression (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = [0.1, 0.7]). Discussion: Aboriginal carers in remote communities are relatively young and most are children or grandchildren. Carer burden was lower than anticipated. However, existing tools may not adequately measure Aboriginal perspectives. Education and empowerment are key factors which support programs must consider.
AB - Objective: To describe demographic features and well-being of carers of Aboriginal Australians aged ≥45 years in remote Western Australia. Method: Carer burden, empowerment, and depression were assessed in 124 Aboriginal carers in four remote Aboriginal communities. Results: Carers were aged 38.8 ± 15.0 years, 73.4% were female, and 75.8% were children or grandchildren of the person cared for. The mean Zarit-6 score was 3.7 ± 3.6. Attending high school (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.1, 0.7]) and feeling empowered (OR = 0.2; 95% CI = [0.1, 0.8]) were inversely associated with carer burden; female carers were less likely to feel empowered (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = [0.2, 0.9]); and empowerment was inversely associated with depression (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = [0.1, 0.7]). Discussion: Aboriginal carers in remote communities are relatively young and most are children or grandchildren. Carer burden was lower than anticipated. However, existing tools may not adequately measure Aboriginal perspectives. Education and empowerment are key factors which support programs must consider.
KW - Aboriginal
KW - carer burden
KW - carers
KW - empowerment
KW - Indigenous
KW - older people
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077894594&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0733464819898667
DO - 10.1177/0733464819898667
M3 - Article
C2 - 31920136
AN - SCOPUS:85077894594
VL - 40
SP - 693
EP - 702
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
SN - 0733-4648
IS - 7
ER -