This study examined use of support services in urban and rural areas and the factors which contribute to the placement of persons with AD into long-term care facilities or Alzheimer’s units sooner than in urban areas. Financial hardships, combativeness, incontinence, sleep deprivation, and lack of support services have been identified as reasons for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease to place them into long-term care facilities or Alzheimer’s units. If this were so, then no disparity should be seen between the urban and rural caregivers. Previous studies failed to separate caregivers by geographical locations, but instead lumped those surveyed into one group, separated only by ethnic background or financial category.
Three hundred questionnaires and informed consent forms were distributed to potential participants from both urban and rural locations. The surveys were self-administered and anonymous. There was a total of 44 respondents, 23 from urban areas and 21 from rural areas.
The results showed that urban caregivers used support services more often than rural caregivers. Reasons for termination of their caregiver role were more time related instead of task related. Also, urban caregivers were more likely to place the person with AD into an Alzheimer’s unit whereas the rural caregivers were more likely to place the person with AD into a long-term care facility. Physical strain and time commitments, more so than mental stress were identified as factors contributing to termination of care giving. Implications for advanced practice nurses were discussed.
