Surmountable Caregiver Barriers to Paratonia Treatment in Community-Dwellers with Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Paratonia is an involuntary, variable resistance to passive movement that affects 90%-100% of patients with advanced dementia, interferes with care and contributes to caregiver burden. Botulinum toxin A is a candidate treatment but has no approved indication, and whether community-dwelling caregivers would attend quarterly outpatient treatment has not been characterised. In an online survey of 274 caregivers, 65.3% reported the care-recipient's paratonia exerted a moderate to extreme impact on their own physical, emotional and mental well-being, and 84.6% reported they would attend an outpatient clinic if treatment were effective. Caregiver willingness suggests the feasibility of clinic-based treatment models.