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Table 3 Differences between types of informal caregivers' needs for additional professional support (Number (%)).

From: Informal caregivers of persons with dementia, their use of and needs for specific professional support: a survey of the National Dementia Programme

Needs for additional professional help

Spouses

N = 490

Sons/Daughters (in- law)

n = 372

p value

Living at home

n = 631

Living in a nursing home or home for the elderly

n = 299

Total

N = 984

p value

Advice

       

I need to learn what to do when the person I am caring for is frightened, angry or confused

115

(23.3)

133

(35.8)

0.001*

182

(28.8)

86

(28.8)

282

(28.8)

0.997

I need to know how to deal with the apathy of the person I am caring for

98

(19.8)

69

(18.6)

0.287

133

(21.0)

38

(12.7)

182

(18.4)

0.002*

I need to learn how to cope with changes in the behavior of the person I am caring for

83

(16.8)

83

(22.3)

0.186

130

(20.5)

43

(14.4)

186

(18.6)

0.024*

I need to learn how to deal with the aggression of the person I am caring for

66

(13.4)

56

(15.1)

0.755

83

(13.1)

43

(14.4)

138

(13.5)

0.597

I need to know which activities I can undertake with the person I am caring for

66

(13.4)

46

(12.4)

0.894

88

(13.9)

26

(8.7)

124

(12.2)

0.024*

Information

       

I need more information about the professional help and support available in the region

90

(18.2)

81

(21.8)

0.093

150

(23.7)

23

(7.7)

183

(18.6)

0.000*

I need information about the progression of dementia

68

(13.8)

79

(21.2)

0.014*

117

(18.5)

44

(14.7)

167

(17.3)

0.156

I need information about the legal amends in case of admission of the person with dementia to a nursing home or home for the elderly

100

(20.2)

41

(11.0)

0.002*

131

(20.7)

16

(5.4)

155

(15.8)

0.000*

Coordination of dementia care

       

I want professional caregivers to work together and to tailor the care

62

(12.6)

75

(20.2)

0.005*

104

(16.4)

43

(14.4)

156

(15.8)

0.432

I want to reflect the professional care from time to time with professional caregivers

56

(11.3)

67

(18.0)

0.050*

89

(14.1)

44

(14.7)

139

(14.3)

0.789

Emotional support

       

I need someone to take away the feeling that I am the only one to look after the person with dementia

85

(17.2)

38

(10.2)

0.024*

95

(15.0)

32

(10.7)

135

(13.6)

0.074

I need someone to look after the person with dementia now and then

74

(15.0)

44

(11.8)

0.399

109

(17.2)

10

(3.3)

129

(12.8)

0.000*

I need emotional support

81

(16.4)

38

(10.2)

0.016*

87

(13.8)

34

(11.4)

129 (13.0)

0.314

  1. *Differences between the scores of 'spouses' and 'sons/daughters (in-law)'versus differences between 'living at home' and 'living in a nursing home or home for the elderly' are statistically significant (Chi-square test, p < 0.05).