The Burden of Care for Families of Elderly Persons with Dementia

Abstract

ABSTRACTA survey of 119 elderly persons with dementia was conducted in the Kingston, Ontario area. Among the findings regarding the burden of care for families of such persons are:1. The proportion of key relatives who said providing the needed care to the subjects had been very difficult was significantly higher for those who have become residents of institutions than those still at home.2. Objective measures of severity of the subjects' dementia were at particularly high levels for individuals for whom providing care had been difficult, while measures which reflect the physical burden of providing care were not.3. Among the subjects for whom providing care had been very difficult, extreme behavioural manifestations (e.g., physical violence) were reported for 67 per cent, versus only 1 per cent of remaining subjects.4. The value system of family providers of care also plays an important role in whether the afflicted person is admitted to an institution.