The global aging process has increased the number of older individuals providing care for relatives with severe mental disorders (SMD). This population faces unique health challenges. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between self-perceived health (SPH) and clinical, functional, and sociodemographic variables among 71 older caregivers (median age: 65 years) in Bogotá, Colombia. SPH was assessed by answering the question: “How would you describe your overall health status?” and dichotomized into good versus poor perception. Comorbidity was measured as the number of self-reported chronic conditions. Caregiver burden was evaluated using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the SF-36, including dimensions such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, bodily pain, and general health. Descriptive analyses, non-parametric comparisons, and logistic regression models were conducted. The results revealed a marked feminization of caregiving (92.96%) and a high prevalence of good SPH (70.42%), despite a substantial burden of physical comorbidities (mean: 3.21). Dimensions such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, and pain were significant in univariate analyses. However, the multivariate model identified general health as the only independent predictor of good SPH (adjusted odds ratio OR: 1.112; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.053–1.174; p < 0.001). These findings suggest that subjective health assessment may transcend objective disease counts for older caregivers. Public health policies could prioritize wellness-based interventions and emotional support over traditional disease-centered approaches to improve the quality of life of this growing, active, socially valuable, yet vulnerable population.
Gama et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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