失智症家屬照顧者的照顧壓力之探討：照顧情境、壓力感知與長期照顧資源使用的影響

Caregiver Stress in Dementia Family Caregivers: The Impact of Caregiving Situations, Stress Perception, and Long-Term Care Resource Utilization

失智症在國內高齡人口盛行率約為7.99%，且九成以上失智者住在家中，以家庭照顧為主要方式。有別於一般高齡照顧，失智症因其疾病特性與患者問題行為使照顧過程更具挑戰，也令家屬更感挫折。本文以調查問卷為主，輔以焦點團體座談的分析，探討失智症的家屬照顧者的日常照顧情境，呈現家屬照顧者的照顧負荷與照顧壓力，並探討長期照顧資源的使用對於減輕照顧壓力的影響。研究發現：（1）照顧者的每日照顧時數越長、無協力照顧網絡，對照顧壓力有顯著影響；（2）照顧情境並非影響照顧者壓力主因，照顧者的壓力感知對於照顧者的壓力具有預測作用；（3）照顧者壓力感知程度越高，正式資源使用程度越高；（4）各類長照服務中僅照顧性支持服務對於照顧壓力的減輕有顯著效果。

Dementia affects an estimated 7.99% of Taiwan’s elderly population, with over 90% of individuals with dementia residing at home and primarily receiving care from family members. Compared to general elder care, dementia caregiving poses distinctive challenges due to the unique behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which contribute to heightened frustration among family caregivers. This study uses survey questionnaires, complemented by focus group discussions, to investigate the daily caregiving experiences of family members caring for individuals with dementia. It examines the caregiving burden and stress faced by these family caregivers and assesses the effect of long-term care resource utilization on alleviating their stress. The primary findings are as follows: (1) Longer hours of daily care provided by caregivers and a lack of support networks have a significant impact on caregiving stress; (2) The caregiving situation is not the primary factor influencing caregiving stress; rather, caregivers’perception of stress serves as a predictor of their stress levels; (3) The higher the caregiver’s perception of stress, the greater the use of formal resources; (4) Among various long-term care services, only supportive caregiving services have a significant effect in reducing caregiving stress.