Mediational Model of Multiple Sclerosis Impairments, Family Needs, and Caregiver Mental Health in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially those living in Latin America, often require assistance from family caregivers throughout the duration of the disease. Previous research suggests that family caregivers may experience positive and negative outcomes from providing care to individuals with MS, but few studies have examined the unmet needs of individuals providing care to family members with MS and how these unmet needs may mediate the relationship between MS symptoms and caregiver mental health. The current study examined the relationships among MS impairments (functional, neurological, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional), unmet family needs (household, informational, financial, social support, and health), and caregiver mental health (satisfaction with life, anxiety, burden, and depression) in a sample of 81 MS caregivers from Guadalajara, Mexico. A structural equation model demonstrated the mediational effect of unmet family needs on the relationship between MS impairments and caregiver mental health. These findings suggest that intervention research on MS caregivers in Latin America may consider focusing on caregiver mental health problems by addressing unmet family needs and teaching caregivers ways to manage the impairments of the individual with MS.

Caregiver-identified needs and barriers to care in Parkinson's disease.

Perceptions of service needs and barriers to care among caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease have not been well explored. The purpose of this study was to assess caregiver perceptions of their own and patients' medical and supportive service needs. An online and paper survey was disseminated to a sample of caregivers (n = 66) of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Although caregivers reported positive quality of life and adjustment to caregiving, nearly half of the sample endorsed feeling stressed about caregiving. Caregivers reported that services for symptom management, coping with changes in lifestyle, future planning, relationships, and cognition, and wellness strategies were most needed. Reported barriers to patients accessing care included limited service availability and a lack of insurance coverage for services. These findings suggest a need to improve access to services for patients and increased efforts to promote caregiver wellness at movement disorder specialty clinics.