Family Caregivers of People with Dementia

Overview

Journal Dialogues Clin Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2009 Jul 10

PMID 19585957

Citations 467

Authors

Henry Brodaty

Marika Donkin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Family caregivers of people with dementia, often called the invisible second patients, are critical to the quality of life of the care recipients. The effects of being a family caregiver, though sometimes positive, are generally negative, with high rates of burden and psychological morbidity as well as social isolation, physical ill-health, and financial hardship. Caregivers vulnerable to adverse effects can be identified, as can factors which ameliorate or exacerbate burden and strain. Psychosocial interventions have been demonstrated to reduce caregiver burden and depression and delay nursing home admission. Comprehensive management of the patient with dementia includes building a partnership between health professionals and family caregivers, referral to Alzheimer's Associations, and psychosocial interventions where indicated.

Citing Articles

Effects of caregiving burden on serum homocysteine and folate levels in spouses of patients with cognitive impairment.

Jeong H, Park S, Kim J, Kim S, Jeon S J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2025; 9:25424823251322499.

PMID: 40034509 PMC: 11864268. DOI: 10.1177/25424823251322499.

Eating and swallowing care disparities in persons with dementia: A conceptual framework.

Loy R, Rogus-Pulia N, Ketchum F, Troche M, Rameau A, Jones H Alzheimers Dement. 2025; 21(2):e70028.

PMID: 40008923 PMC: 11863356. DOI: 10.1002/alz.70028.

Unveiling the qualities of a 'good doctor': family carers' and healthcare professionals' perspective on dementia healthcare in India.

Baruah U, Rao R, Antoniades J, Loganathan S, Varghese M, Cooper C Int J Equity Health. 2025; 24(1):46.

PMID: 39962575 PMC: 11834680. DOI: 10.1186/s12939-025-02408-3.

The Incidence and Prevalence of Dementia Among Ontario Adults With and Without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Patel P, Sun W, Mataruga A, Fung K, Balogh R Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025; 40(2):e70050.

PMID: 39939115 PMC: 11821373. DOI: 10.1002/gps.70050.

Recruitment Challenges and Strategies in a Technology-Based Intervention for Dementia Caregivers: Descriptive Study.

Ko E, Gao Y, Wang P, Wijayasingha L, Wright K, Gordon K JMIR Form Res. 2025; 9:e59291.

PMID: 39864818 PMC: 11769690. DOI: 10.2196/59291.

References

Semple S . Conflict in Alzheimer's caregiving families: its dimensions and consequences. Gerontologist. 1992; 32(5):648-55. DOI: 10.1093/geront/32.5.648. View

Rabins P, Fitting M, Eastham J, Zabora J . Emotional adaptation over time in care-givers for chronically ill elderly people. Age Ageing. 1990; 19(3):185-90. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/19.3.185. View

Zarit S, Whitlatch C . Institutional placement: phases of the transition. Gerontologist. 1992; 32(5):665-72. DOI: 10.1093/geront/32.5.665. View

Mohide E, Torrance G, Streiner D, PRINGLE D, Gilbert R . Measuring the wellbeing of family caregivers using the time trade-off technique. J Clin Epidemiol. 1988; 41(5):475-82. DOI: 10.1016/0895-4356(88)90049-2. View

Serrano-Aguilar P, Lopez-Bastida J, Yanes-Lopez V . Impact on health-related quality of life and perceived burden of informal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Neuroepidemiology. 2006; 27(3):136-42. DOI: 10.1159/000095760. View

Morrissey E, Becker J, Rubert M . Coping resources and depression in the caregiving spouses of Alzheimer patients. Br J Med Psychol. 1990; 63(2):161-71. DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1990.tb01609.x. View

Kurihara T, Kato M, Tsukahara T, Takano Y, Reverger R . The low prevalence of high levels of expressed emotion in Bali. Psychiatry Res. 2000; 94(3):229-38. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-1781(00)00143-8. View

Fearon M, Donaldson C, Burns A, Tarrier N . Intimacy as a determinant of expressed emotion in carers of people with Alzheimer's disease. Psychol Med. 1998; 28(5):1085-90. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291798007156. View

Brodaty H, Green A, Koschera A . Meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003; 51(5):657-64. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0579.2003.00210.x. View

10.

Haley W, Levine E, Brown S, Bartolucci A . Stress, appraisal, coping, and social support as predictors of adaptational outcome among dementia caregivers. Psychol Aging. 1987; 2(4):323-30. DOI: 10.1037//0882-7974.2.4.323. View

11.

Spitznagel M, Tremont G, Davis J, Foster S . Psychosocial predictors of dementia caregiver desire to institutionalize: caregiver, care recipient, and family relationship factors. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2006; 19(1):16-20. PMC: 1361276. DOI: 10.1177/0891988705284713. View

12.

Shurgot G, Knight B . Influence of neuroticism, ethnicity, familism, and social support on perceived burden in dementia caregivers: pilot test of the transactional stress and social support model. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005; 60(6):P331-P334. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/60.6.p331. View

13.

Kendell R, DiScipio W . Eysenck personality inventory scores of patients with depressive illnesses. Br J Psychiatry. 1968; 114(511):767-70. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.114.511.767. View

14.

Tornatore J, Grant L . Burden among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease in nursing homes. Gerontologist. 2002; 42(4):497-506. DOI: 10.1093/geront/42.4.497. View

15.

Peisah C, Brodaty H, Quadrio C . Family conflict in dementia: prodigal sons and black sheep. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006; 21(5):485-92. DOI: 10.1002/gps.1501. View

16.

Segerstrom S, Schipper L, Greenberg R . Caregiving, repetitive thought, and immune response to vaccination in older adults. Brain Behav Immun. 2008; 22(5):744-52. PMC: 2464708. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2007.11.004. View

17.

Kramer B . Gain in the caregiving experience: where are we? What next?. Gerontologist. 1997; 37(2):218-32. DOI: 10.1093/geront/37.2.218. View

18.

Sanders S . Is the glass half empty or full? Reflections on strain and gain in cargivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Soc Work Health Care. 2005; 40(3):57-73. DOI: 10.1300/J010v40n03_04. View

19.

Lopez J, Crespo M . Analysis of the efficacy of a psychotherapeutic program to improve the emotional status of caregivers of elderly dependent relatives. Aging Ment Health. 2008; 12(4):451-61. DOI: 10.1080/13607860802224292. View

20.

Schulz R, Visintainer P, Williamson G . Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of caregiving. J Gerontol. 1990; 45(5):P181-91. DOI: 10.1093/geronj/45.5.p181. View