The primary objective of this study is to identify and support hidden caregivers of older adults. Caregivers are assessed before the intervention on their mental well-being and social connectedness. Caregivers are triaged into four levels: low, mild, moderate and high. They will receive different types of services (intervention) accordingly. At the end of the service period (or 6-months after the baseline), caregivers and care recipients will complete the assessment again to measure the changes of the primary outcomes.
"All participants will provide informed consent at the time of enrolment. Both caregivers and their care recipients will complete an assessment. Caregivers are screened for their physical health, mental well-being, social engagement, and social connectedness. Care recipients are screened for their physical health and capacity in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Caregivers are triaged into four levels: low, mild, moderate and high. Caregivers in low level will receive case follow-up service, those in mild level will receive regular phone check-in, those in moderate level will receive a maximal of 30 hours of respite service within 6 month, and those in high level will receive professional counselling. At the end of the service period (or 6-months after the baseline), caregivers and care recipients will complete the assessment again to measure the changes of the primary outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
380
Caregivers will be provided with 30 hours of respite service within 6 months. Trained substitute caregivers will provide in-home elderly-sitting service.
Case follow-up service provided by social workers. Social workers will call the caregiver regularly to see if situation changes.
Crisis management and councelling provided by social workers and professionals.
University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGUniversity of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGChange from baseline in score in caregiving needs on the Carer Needs Screening Tool (CNST-11) after the intervention
The Carer Needs Screening Tool (CNST-11) is a self-developed tool that measures different aspects of caregiving needs over the past 1 week period. It is a 11-item scale, with 8 items that determines the overall needs level and the others for four aspects of needs: physical health, mental health, social support and care needs. Possible score is from 8 to 32 with lower score indicates lower caregivers' needs. Change in score = Immediate after intervention - baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention
Change from baseline in score in social support on MOS Social Support Survey after the intervention
The MOS Social Support Survey (MOSSSS) is a widely used tool that consists of 6 questions designed to measure the amount of support one needs. The total score ranges from 6 to 30, with higher scores indicating more support received. Change in score = Immediate after intervention - baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention
Change from baseline in score in the severity and disturbance of symptoms of care recipient on Neuropsychiatric Inventory after the intervention
The Neuropsychiatric Inventory measures the severity and disturbance to caregiver of 13 common symtoms (e.g., dellusion, sleeping problem) of the care recipient. Severity is rated from 0 to 3, with 0 indicates no symptom and 3 indicates severe problem. Disturbance to caregiver is rated from 0 to 5, with 0 being not affected at all and 5 being extremely affected. The higher score in both subscales indicate worse problem. Change in score = Immediate after intervention - baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention
Change from baseline in score in social connectedness on Social Connectedness Scale after the intervention
The Social Connectedness Scale consists of 6 items that measures how closely one feel that they are connected to the community. The total score on the scale can range from 8 to 48, with higher scores indicating a higher level of connectedness. Change in score = Immediate after intervention - baseline
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Regular phone check-in and on-demand services (e.g., escort to hospital) provided by volunteers.
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention
Change from baseline in score in the view on gender role on Gender Role Attitude Scale after the intervention
The Gender Role Attitude Scale consists of 3 items that measure the view on traditional gender role. The total score range from 3 to 15, with lower score indicate more traditional value. Change in score = Immediate after intervention - baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention
Change in score from baseline in quality of life measured by EQ-5D-5L after intervention
The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized instrument used to assess health-related quality of life across five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. The responses are converted into a single index value representing overall health status using Hong Kong's normative value. The primary outcome measure in this study is the change in EQ-5D-5L index scores from baseline to post-intervention/follow-up assessments. 1 equals to perfect health and more negative numbers indicates worse health. Change in health index = Immediate after intervention - baseline
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention
Changes in score from baseline in perception of caregiving measured by Positive Aspect of Caregiving scale after intervention
The Positive Aspect of Caregiving scale is a 11-item scale that measures how the caregiver perceive caregiving experience, specifically in a positive aspect (e.g., caregiving makes me feel useful). It is rated in a 5-point Likert scale from "very disagree" to "very agree", with potential score from 0 to 44. A higher score indicates caregiving perceiving it in a more positive way.
Time frame: Baseline and Immediate after intervention