Waiting for a space in an adult day support program: retrospective caregiver perspectives

Abstract

Adult Day Support Programs (ADSPs) are designed to give caregivers of individuals with dementia respite; however, there is little empirical evidence into the burden borne by caregivers who wait for community based health services. A cross-sectional, retrospective questionnaire was used to assess the levels of burden, stress, depression, self esteem and the perceived impact of waiting for an ADSP of caregivers of individuals who attended dementia-specific ADSPs in the Calgary Health Region. The response rate for perceived, expected, and acceptable waiting times was insufficient to draw conclusions; however, thirty percent of caregivers found that the waiting period allowed them to adapt to the use of ADSPs, compared with twenty-five percent who found that waiting for ADSP services was associated with an increase in stress level. Waiting time did not have an association with current caregiver burden. These results support further investigation into the effects of waiting for community based health services.