Survey for Caregivers Aged 50 and Over
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Health questionnaire.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Caregiver Wellbeing, Caregiver Mental Health, Caregivers, Health. Basic parameters: from 50 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
There are more and more informal caregivers (PPA) in Quebec. Their increase between 2012 and 2018, according to data from the "General Social Survey - Care Given and Received," was significant, around 32%. The available data paint a typical portrait of a Quebec caregiver: (a) she is a woman, (b) aged between 50-55 years, (c) who devotes at least 3 hours of her time per week, on a regular basis, (d) to caring for an elderly parent. To this date, there is no reliable data on the health status-whether mental, physical, or social-of caregivers in Quebec. Yet this information is crucial because it affects the ability of caregivers to fulfill their role and, consequently, the stable health of the individuals they care for, allowing them to continue living at home. This situation exposes caregivers to a decline in their own health, and by extension, the health of those they care for. The fact that the typical Quebec caregiver is 50 years old or older increases the risk of health deterioration within the caregiver-care receiver pair. Indeed, age 50 is when the effects of physiological and pathological aging begin to impact the physical capacities of the elderly. Developing new practices that focus on the health characteristics of both caregivers and care receivers, in order to prevent health deterioration, is therefore a crucial step in supporting caregivers in their role and ensuring that care receivers can stay at home in good conditions for as long as possible. The issue of caregivers' health is still under-addressed in Quebec, both in the scientific literature and in population surveys. It seems that caregivers need a comprehensive evaluation of their health status (physical, mental, and social), given the significant impact caregiving has on their health. Research conducted within the Living Lab, led by Dr. Beauchet's team, has helped develop tools and questionnaires that effectively assess the frailty of individuals aged 50 and over and produce reports that raise awareness about their health status, enabling them to implement future care solutions that meet their needs. The overall objective is to assess the health status (mental, physical, social) of caregivers aged 50 and over, living in Quebec-through self-assessment to make them aware of their actual health condition and engage them in a process of self-care.
Interventions
- Other Health questionnaire
The intervention involves the completion and analysis of an online questionnaire designed to assess the health (mental, physical, social) of caregivers aged 50 and over in Quebec. This assessment is based on a combination of questionnaires (CARE, 4-item Zarit scale, 4-item GDS, 3-item UCLA loneliness scale, etc.).
Primary outcome measures
- Physical health using the CARE frailty scale [Time frame: Questionnaire completed once (15 minutes) between October 2024 and February 2025]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Caregiver burden with the 4-item Zarit score (/20) [Time frame: Questionnaire completed once (15 minutes) between October 2024 and February 2025]
- Depression with the 4-item GDS score (/4) [Time frame: Questionnaire completed once (15 minutes) between October 2024 and February 2025]
- Social isolation [Time frame: Questionnaire completed once (15 minutes) between October 2024 and February 2025]
- Loneliness with the UCLA score (/9) [Time frame: Questionnaire completed once (15 minutes) between October 2024 and February 2025]
- Perceived health scores [Time frame: Questionnaire completed once (15 minutes) between October 2024 and February 2025]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Be a caregiver
- Be 50 years old or older
- Reside in Quebec for at least 6 months and 1 day of the year
- Have an internet connection with an electronic device (computer, touch tablet or smartphone)
- Read and understand written French or English. The questionnaire is only available in these 2 languages.
Exclusion criteria
- Living in a Centre d'Hébergement et de Soins de Longue Durée (CHSLD) (long-term care centre) or in the medicalized sector of a seniors' residence.
- Participate in a concurrent interventional study (study involving medication or therapeutic intervention, etc.).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-only
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- CRIUGM — Montreal
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06724757 · 2025-2165