[An experience of psychological support at home for aged and dependent people and their families. Assesment of the PsyAdom programme].

Abstract

The PsyAdom project has been initiated by the Clinical Psychologist Working in Gerontology Association. It consists in setting up an at home psychological follow-up for aged dependent subjects and their caregivers. Families are often isolated, and being kept up in their homes involves a risk of exhaustion. Psychological help is usually offered outside home, and cannot be available or very costly for some people. Eighteen couples were included in the study. Anxiety of the patients and caregivers was assessed by the Goldberg's anxiety scale, depression by the MADRS, experienced stress by the Mini-Zarit scale and attitude towards psychological help by the NPI. A qualitative assessment of the intervention was performed by recording semi-directed interviews of the involved psychologists to assess the patients and caregivers acceptance of the intervention, their compliance with participating, and reasons for stopping the intervention. No significant difference was found in the caregivers' burden and anxiety following the intervention. However, the results showed a lower level of depression in the caregivers, and a better attitude of the patients towards the caregivers. Analysis of the initial application for help and acceptance of the follow-up shows that possibility and relevance of psychological intervention at home depend on accurate indications. Initial application should be very unequivocal and the therapy protocol clearly explicited from the start to allow a good understanding of the goals of the therapy by the patients and caregivers.