Identifying the caregiver burden for the elderly population aged ≥85 years in a province

Aim: The number of elderly individuals aged ≥85 is steadily increasing. With this increase, the care needs of the elderly and the caregiver burden are increasing. The present study aimed to identify the caregiver burden providing care to a population aged ≥85, as well as it associated factors. Materials and Methods: The universe of this cross-sectional study was 3741 individuals over 85 years of age living in Burdur province. N = 3741 subjects, p = 0.50; q = 1-p; t = 1.96; d = 0.05 and the sample size is calculated as 348 persons. Since Family Medicine Information System will be used in the selection of the sample, the number of elderly people to be taken from each family physician was found by dividing the number of the family physician; accordingly, the number of elderly people per family physicians were found 4.4 (348/79 = 4.4 people). However, considering the possibilities of death or hospitalization of the elderly, it was decided to recruit 5 people from each family physician and the number of samples was accepted as 395. Five elderly were determined by randomization. In statistical analysis, the t-test and analysis of variance were applied on scale scores. Multivariate analysis was performed using forward linear regression method to determine the reasons affecting the care burden. Results: The mean age of the elderly population was 88.0 ± 2.5 years. The mean age of the caregivers was 60.3 ± 13.1 years, and 84.8% of them were women. The mean Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale score of the caregivers was 35.49 ± 18.08. The dependence of the elderly individual, a poor overall health perception of the caregivers, and residence in the same house with the elderly individual were observed as the factors that increased the care burden (p = 0.004 and p = 0.004, p <0.001 and p = 0.026). Conclusion: Of the elderly, 68.4% needed care. The dependence of the elderly individual, a poor overall health perception of the caregiver, and residence in the same house with the elderly individual increased the care burden.