| This study examined informal (n = 55) and formal (n = 53) caregivers' perceptions of responsibility for care of residents with dementia in 4 long term care facilities and how these perceptions impacted on the caregivers' experience of stress. Respondents rated the responsibility of 28 caring tasks and reported the frequency of exposure and associated hassles level of 30 events on the Caregiving Hassle Scale. A significant difference in rating of responsibility indicated that each caregiver group perceived that responsibility for tasks belonged more to themselves than the other caregiver group. When tasks were examined for agreement about responsibility, after controlling for frequency of exposure, formal caregivers with low agreement reported significantly lower hassle levels than informal caregivers with low agreement. Formal and informal caregivers with high agreement reported intermediate hassle levels which were not significantly different. Results were interpreted in relation to control, informal caregivers' affective responses and formal caregivers' burnout. |
