Perseverance time of informal carers: a new concept in dementia care : Validation and exploration

Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce the concept of perseverance time of informal carers of relatives with dementia living at home.

Methods: During 2 years data were collected from 223 informal carers of persons with dementia and the care situation. Convergent validity was assessed by looking at associations of perseverance time with validated instruments for measuring subjective burden and happiness. Content validity was evaluated by performing bi- and multivariate correlations between perseverance time and characteristics of persons with dementia, informal carers and care situations.

Results: Correlation coefficients between perseverance time and the validated measures of burden and happiness were significant. Health of the person with dementia, informal carer living apart from the person with dementia, and male gender of informal carer were positively associated with perseverance time; need for supervision, intensity of informal care provision, and reductions in working hours and hobbies in order to be able to provide care negatively. The predictive validity was significant with a perseverance time up to 2 years.

Conclusions: This investigation provides a first indication of the validity of the concept of perseverance time, but replication is necessary. In healthcare practice persevering time provides clues for early detection of overburdening and crises situations.