The purpose of this study was to investigate the caregiving burden
experienced by older family caregivers of homebound older individuals
with dementia in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan before the COVID-19
pandemic. The study examined their attitudes towards supporting older
parents and involved 540 family caregivers. Various scales and
questionnaires were used to assess factors such as memory and behavior
problems, perceived support, general health, burden, cultural
justification, and coping strategies. The results revealed that greater
memory and behavioral problems in dementia patients negatively impacted
caregivers' mental health and influenced their coping strategies. The
study found no direct correlation between support for older parents and
mental health but identified a positive association with specific coping
strategies. The similarities among family caregivers in Hong Kong,
Singapore, and Japan were noted, including age, education, occupational
status, and shared cultural values like Confucianism and respect for
elders. It was observed that caregivers prioritize their own quality of
life while addressing the challenges related to caring for older
parents.