Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the problematic behavior for the demented elderly and the stress among family members, and the effects of the problematic behavior upon the stress in order to offer the basic data for the adult and the elderly health education about dementia. For this purpose, 70 families who were resident in Seoul and Inchon were surveyed by quetionnaires. This was carried out from 26 July, 1994 to 11 September, 1994. Datum was analysed by using SPSS\PC+ including percentage, mean, t - test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation. So, the results of this study were as follows: 1. In view of socia-demographic characteristics, female were 82.9%, and of the female daughters-in-law of the demented elderly were 44.9%. 40th years old were 32.9% and 88.6% wase married. The christian were 34.8%, those who graduated university 47.1%, and those who had a job 32.9%. 2. Of the demented elderly, female were 74.3%, 80 years old were 37.1%, and their average age was seventy-seven point one years old. 66.2% of the elderly has been lived alone and the christian were 27.5%. In addition, those who graduated elementary school were 66.5%. 3. Of the behavior problem for the demented elderly, Activities of the Daily Living(ADL) was the most severe problem. The 2nd was cognitive function problem, the 3th, change of personality, the 4th, emotional disturbance, and the last, misconduct behavior. 4. For the status of behavior problems, females were more severe than male, and 80th years elderly ware the most severe groups. The longer disease period was, the severe problematic behaviors were, and in 4-6 years of the disease period the status was the highest(p＜0.05). Those who diagnosed the disease had more severe problems(p＜0.001). 5. The orders of the stress among family members caring for the demented elderly in this study were as follows : 1. The deficiency of supporting network 2. Decrease of elderly's cognitive activities 3. Assistance of BADL(Basic Activities of Daily Living) 6. Elderly's abnormal behavior 5. Assistance of IADL(Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), 6. As for the status of the stress among family members, female respondants were higher than male. On the ages, 20th years' stress score were the highest. Daughters-in-law were stressed more than other family members. The longer the time of caring per day was, the highest the status of the stress(p＜0.05), 7. Those who caring for female elderly and more than 80 years had more stressed. When the elderly was received the diagnosis, the family members were more stressed. On the disease period, 1-2 years was the highest and after 2 years the status of the stress was decreased and more than 6 years was the lowest(p＜0.05). 8. Behavior problems of the demented elderly were closely associated to the stress for family members. Of the problems, change of personality was the most related factor(r = 0.6552). The factors of Basic Activities of the Daily Living(BADL) was most correlated on assistance of Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL), emotional disturbance the assistance of IADL(Instrumental Activities of Daily Living). Change of personality was most related to the stress of the decrease of cognitive activities and elderly's abnormal behavior. The deficiency of supporting network was most related to misconduct behavior.

Keywords