A Study on the Demand for the Development of a Group Counseling Program to Reduce Depression among Dementia Elderly Family Affiliates

Objectives This study was attempted to provide basic data for the development of a group counseling program for family dependents for the elderly with dementia to reduce depression among family dependents (housewife dependents, other dependents). Methods The subjects of the study are family dependents living with 80 elderly people aged 65 or older registered in the dementia management project among the elderly who use the Daegu Metropolitan City Day Care Center and the Home Welfare Center. Data were collected through a questionnaire by dividing family caregivers into housewives (80 people) and other caregivers (80 people). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-analysis, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis, and t-test. Results As a result of the study, 55.0% of housewives and 60.0% of other dependents living with the elderly with dementia said they were willing to participate in group counseling. As a result of statistical analysis, the burden of support for other dependents living with the elderly with dementia was positively significant in depression, indicating that depression also increased as the burden of support for family dependents increased. In the composition of the group counseling program, both housewives had a high demand for emotional support and empathy, and other dependents had a high demand for self-care and stress management. Among other supporters who want to participate in group counseling, 56.2% prefer online counseling to face-to-face counseling. Conclusions As a result of this study, special attention is needed not only for elderly housewives with dementia but also for other dependents in order to reduce depression among elderly families with dementia. There is an urgent need for a professional group counseling program for them. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the program rather than uniform group counseling, it is necessary to operate a customized program and prepare a system that applies various counseling methods for each subject.