Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Impact of Dementia on Family Caregivers: What Is Research Teaching Us?

  • Dementia (KS Marder, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dementia family caregiving has been the focus of research for decades. Much has been learned about the negative impact of caregiving as well as characteristics that may be protective. This paper explores themes in caregiving pertinent to clinicians and researchers working with dementia family caregivers: the psychological, subjective, and physical outcomes of caregiving, ways in which dementia alters relationships between the patient and caregiver, and strategies for improving outcomes for caregivers. Suggestions for next steps in research and clinical care are made.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Lin JS, O’Connor E, Rossom RC, Perdue LA, Eckstrom E. Screening for cognitive impairment in older adults: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159(9):601–12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Plassman BL, Langa KM, Fisher GG, Heeringa SG, Weir DR, Ofstedal MB, et al. Prevalence of dementia in the United States: the aging, demographics, and memory study. Neuroepidemiology. 2007;29(1–2):125–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Querfurth HW, LaFerla FM. Alzheimer’s disease. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(4):329–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gitlin LN, Kales HC, Lyketsos CG. Nonpharmacologic management of behavioral symptoms in dementia. JAMA. 2012;308(19):2020–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. The Alzheimer’s Association. 2016 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheim Dement: J Alzheim Assoc. 2016;12(4). Provides current statistics and research findings from all 50 states on dementia and caregivers.

  6. Wolff JL, Jacobs BJ. Chronic illness trends and the challenges to family caregivers: Organizational and health system barriers. In: Gaugler JE, Kane R, editors. Caregiving in the New Normal. 1st ed. Academic Press; 2015. p. 79. Reports on population trends in health and illness. Reviews service delivery trends, reimbursement, and how this impacts the future of caregiving.

  7. Friedemann ML, Buckwalter KC, Newman FL, Mauro AC. Patterns of caregiving of Cuban, other Hispanic, Caribbean black, and white elders in South Florida. J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2013;28(2):137–52.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Reinhard SC, Samis S, Levine C. Family caregivers providing complex chronic care to people with cognitive and behavioral health conditions. 2014;93.

  9. Jennings LA, Reuben DB, Evertson LC, Serrano KS, Ercoli L, Grill J, et al. Unmet needs of caregivers of individuals referred to a dementia care program. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015;63(2):282–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Zarit SH, Todd PA, Zarit JM. Subjective burden of husbands and wives as caregivers: a longitudinal study. Gerontologist. 1986;26(3):260–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Pinquart M, Sorensen S. Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis. Psychol Aging. 2003;18(2):250–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pinquart M, Sorensen S. Correlates of physical health of informal caregivers: a meta-analysis. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007;62(2):126–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Pinquart M, Sorensen S. Associations of caregiver stressors and uplifts with subjective well-being and depressive mood: a meta-analytic comparison. Aging Ment Health. 2004;8(5):438–49.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chiao CY, Wu HS, Hsiao CY. Caregiver burden for informal caregivers of patients with dementia: a systematic review. Int Nurs Rev. 2015;62(3):340–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Millenaar JK, de Vugt ME, Bakker C, van Vliet D, Pijnenburg YA, Koopmans RT, et al. The impact of young onset dementia on informal caregivers compared with late onset dementia: results from the NeedYD study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;17.

  16. Svendsboe E, Terum T, Testad I, Aarsland D, Ulstein I, Corbett A, et al. Caregiver burden in family carers of people with dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;14.

  17. Poysti MM, Laakkonen ML, Strandberg T, Savikko N, Tilvis RS, Eloniemi-Sulkava U, et al. Gender differences in dementia spousal caregiving. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;2012:162960.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. van der Lee J, Bakker TJ, Duivenvoorden HJ, Droes RM. Multivariate models of subjective caregiver burden in dementia: a systematic review. Ageing Res Rev. 2014;15:76–93. The authors conducted a review of 56 studies in order to identify the strongest determinants of caregiver burden. They found that the strongest determinants included patient behavioral symptoms, caregiver personality traits, and caregiver competency.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Zawadzki L, Mondon K, Peru N, Hommet C, Constans T, Gaillard P, et al. Attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease as a risk factor for caregiver burden. Int Psychogeriatr. 2011;23(9):1451–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Springate BA, Tremont G. Dimensions of caregiver burden in dementia: impact of demographic, mood, and care recipient variables. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;22(3):294–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Borsje P, Hems MA, Lucassen PL, Bor H, Koopmans RT, Pot AM. Psychological distress in informal caregivers of patients with dementia in primary care: course and determinants. Fam Pract. 2016;11.

  22. O’Dwyer ST, Moyle W, Zimmer-Gembeck M, De Leo D. Suicidal ideation in family carers of people with dementia. Aging Ment Health. 2016;20(2):222–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Vitaliano PP, Zhang J, Young HM, Caswell LW, Scanlan JM, Echeverria D. Depressed mood mediates decline in cognitive processing speed in caregivers. Gerontologist. 2009;49(1):12–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. O’Dwyer ST, Moyle W, Taylor T, Creese J, Zimmer-Gembeck MJ. Homicidal ideation in family carers of people with dementia. Aging Ment Health. 2015;20:1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Tangney JP, Wagner P, Gramzow R. Proneness to shame, proneness to guilt, and psychopathology. J Abnorm Psychol. 1992;101(3):469–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gonyea JG, Paris R, de Saxe Zerden L. Adult daughters and aging mothers: the role of guilt in the experience of caregiver burden. Aging Ment Health. 2008;12(5):559–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Rosa E, Lussignoli G, Sabbatini F, Chiappa A, Di Cesare S, Lamanna L, et al. Needs of caregivers of the patients with dementia. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2010;51(1):54–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Feast A, Orrell M, Russell I, Charlesworth G, Moniz-Cook E. The contribution of caregiver psychosocial factors to distress associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;18.

  29. Hogsnes L, Melin-Johansson C, Norbergh KG, Danielson E. The existential life situations of spouses of persons with dementia before and after relocating to a nursing home. Aging Ment Health. 2014;18(2):152–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Schulz R, Beach SR. Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the caregiver health effects study. JAMA. 1999;282(23):2215–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Vitaliano PP, Russo J, Scanlan JM, Greeno CG. Weight changes in caregivers of Alzheimer’s care recipients: psychobehavioral predictors. Psychol Aging. 1996;11(1):155–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Mausbach BT, Patterson TL, Rabinowitz YG, Grant I, Schulz R. Depression and distress predict time to cardiovascular disease in dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2007;26(5):539–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Capistrant BD, Moon JR, Glymour MM. Spousal caregiving and incident hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 2012;25(4):437–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Vitaliano PP, Zhang J, Scanlan JM. Is caregiving hazardous to one’s physical health? A meta-analysis. Psychol Bull. 2003;129(6):946–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Steptoe A, Hamer M, Chida Y. The effects of acute psychological stress on circulating inflammatory factors in humans: a review and meta-analysis. Brain Behav Immun. 2007;21(7):901–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. von Kanel R, Mills PJ, Mausbach BT, Dimsdale JE, Patterson TL, Ziegler MG, et al. Effect of Alzheimer caregiving on circulating levels of C-reactive protein and other biomarkers relevant to cardiovascular disease risk: a longitudinal study. Gerontology. 2012;58(4):354–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Mausbach BT, von Kanel R, Roepke SK, Moore R, Patterson TL, Mills PJ, et al. Self-efficacy buffers the relationship between dementia caregiving stress and circulating concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;19(1):64–71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. von Kanel R, Mausbach BT, Dimsdale JE, Mills PJ, Patterson TL, Ancoli-Israel S, et al. Cardiometabolic effects in caregivers of nursing home placement and death of their spouse with Alzheimer’s disease. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59(11):2037–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Blackburn EH, Epel ES, Lin J. Human telomere biology: a contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection. Science. 2015;350(6265):1193–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Damjanovic AK, Yang Y, Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Nguyen H, Laskowski B, et al. Accelerated telomere erosion is associated with a declining immune function of caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients. J Immunol. 2007;179(6):4249–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Kim H, Rose K. Sleep disturbances in family caregivers: an overview of the state of the science. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2011;25(6):456–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Peng HL, Chang YP. Sleep disturbance in family caregivers of individuals with dementia: a review of the literature. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2013;49(2):135–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Merrilees J, Hubbard E, Mastick J, Miller BL, Dowling GA. Sleep in persons with frontotemporal dementia and their family caregivers. Nurs Res. 2014;63(2):129–36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Taylor BJ, Irish LA, Martire LM, Siegle GJ, Krafty RT, Schulz R, et al. Avoidant coping and poor sleep efficiency in dementia caregivers. Psychosom Med. 2015;77(9):1050–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Simpson C, Carter P. The impact of living arrangements on dementia caregivers’ sleep quality. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2015;30(4):352–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Dassel KB, Carr DC, Vitaliano P. Does caring for a spouse with dementia accelerate cognitive decline? Findings from the health and retirement study. Gerontologist. 2015;18.

  47. Norton MC, Smith KR, Ostbye T, Tschanz JT, Corcoran C, Schwartz S, et al. Greater risk of dementia when spouse has dementia? The cache county study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010;58(5):895–900.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Pozzebon M, Douglas J, Ames D. Spouses’ experience of living with a partner diagnosed with a dementia: a synthesis of the qualitative research. Int Psychogeriatr. 2016;28(4):537–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Evans D, Lee E. Impact of dementia on marriage: a qualitative systematic review. Dementia (London). 2014;13(3):330–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Meyer J, Mc Cullough J, Berggren I. A phenomenological study of living with a partner affected with dementia. Br J Community Nurs. 2016;21(1):24–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Sturm VE, McCarthy ME, Yun I, Madan A, Yuan JW, Holley SR, et al. Mutual gaze in Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal and semantic dementia couples. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2011;6(3):359–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Fauth E, Hess K, Piercy K, Norton M, Corcoran C, Rabins P, et al. Caregivers’ relationship closeness with the person with dementia predicts both positive and negative outcomes for caregivers’ physical health and psychological well-being. Aging Ment Health. 2012;16(6):699–711.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Miller B, Darby A, Benson D, Cummings J, Miller M. Aggressive, socially disruptive and antisocial behaviour associated with fronto-temporal dementia. Br J Psychiatry. 1997;170:150–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Hodges JR. Frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s disease): clinical features and assessment. Neurology. 2001;56(11 Suppl 4):S6–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Rankin KP, Santos-Modesitt W, Kramer JH, Pavlic D, Beckman V, Miller BL. Spontaneous social behaviors discriminate behavioral dementias from psychiatric disorders and other dementias. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(1):60–73.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Rankin KP, Kramer JH, Mychack P, Miller BL. Double dissociation of social functioning in frontotemporal dementia. Neurology. 2003;60(2):266–71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Hsieh S, Irish M, Daveson N, Hodges JR, Piguet O. When one loses empathy: its effect on carers of patients with dementia. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2013;26(3):174–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Rankin KP, Kramer JH, Miller BL. Patterns of cognitive and emotional empathy in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Cogn Behav Neurol. 2005;18(1):28–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Goodkind MS, Sturm VE, Ascher EA, Shdo SM, Miller BL, Rankin KP, et al. Emotion recognition in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: a new film-based assessment. Emotion. 2015;15(4):416–27.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Gallagher-Thompson D, Dal Canto PG, Jacob T, Thompson LW. A comparison of marital interaction patterns between couples in which the husband does or does not have Alzheimer’s disease. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2001;56(3):S140–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Ascher EA, Sturm VE, Seider BH, Holley SR, Miller BL, Levenson RW. Relationship satisfaction and emotional language in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease patients and spousal caregivers. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2010;24(1):49–55.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. Suitor JJ, Gilligan M, Johnson K, Pillemer K. Caregiving, perceptions of maternal favoritism, and tension among siblings. Gerontologist. 2014;54(4):580–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Maslow K. Translating innovation to impact: evidence-based interventions to support people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers at home and in the community. White Pap: Alliance Aging Res. 2012. A comprehensive review of interventions tested so far to improve outcomes for persons with dementia and their caregivers. Discusses the imperative and strategies for translation of findings into clinical care.

  64. Vandepitte S, Van Den Noortgate N, Putman K, Verhaeghe S, Verdonck C, Annemans L. Effectiveness of respite care in supporting informal caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;1.

  65. Tang WK, Chan CY. Effects of psychosocial interventions on self-efficacy of dementia caregivers: a literature review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;31(5):475–93. Authors review the evidence on psychosocial interventions used to improve self-efficacy among dementia family caregivers. Their literature review includes 14 studies.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Au A, Gallagher-Thompson D, Wong MK, Leung J, Chan WC, Chan CC, et al. Behavioral activation for dementia caregivers: scheduling pleasant events and enhancing communications. Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:611–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Czaja SJ, Loewenstein D, Schulz R, Nair SN, Perdomo D. A videophone psychosocial intervention for dementia caregivers. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013;21(11):1071–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Kim H. Understanding internet use among dementia caregivers: results of secondary data analysis using the US caregiver survey data. Interact J Med Res. 2015;4(1):e1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  69. Demiris G. Information technology to support aging: Implications for caregiving. In: Gaugler JE, Kane R, editor. Caregiving in the New Normal. 1st ed. Academic Press; 2015. p. 211.

  70. Harmell AL, Chattillion EA, Roepke SK, Mausbach BT. A review of the psychobiology of dementia caregiving: a focus on resilience factors. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2011;13(3):219–24.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Dias R, Santos RL, Sousa MF, Nogueira MM, Torres B, Belfort T, et al. Resilience of caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review of biological and psychosocial determinants. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2015;37(1):12–9. Comprehensive review of the various definitions of resilience, how it has been studied, and its association with caregiver variables and outcomes.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Donnellan WJ, Bennett KM, Soulsby LK. What are the factors that facilitate or hinder resilience in older spousal dementia carers? A qualitative study. Aging Ment Health. 2015;19(10):932–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Joling KJ, Windle G, Droes RM, Huisman M, Hertogh CM, Woods RT. What are the essential features of resilience for informal caregivers of people living with dementia? A Delphi consensus examination. Aging Ment Health. 2015;21:1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Wilks SE, Little KG, Gough HR, Spurlock WJ. Alzheimer’s aggression: influences on caregiver coping and resilience. J Gerontol Soc Work. 2011;54(3):260–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Fernandez-Lansac V, Crespo Lopez M, Caceres R, Rodriguez-Poyo M. Resilience in caregivers of patients with dementia: a preliminary study. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2012;47(3):102–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Shuter P, Beattie E, Edwards H. An exploratory study of grief and health-related quality of life for caregivers of people with dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2014;29(4):379–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev. 1997;84(2):191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Gallagher D, Ni Mhaolain A, Crosby L, Ryan D, Lacey L, Coen RF, et al. Self-efficacy for managing dementia may protect against burden and depression in Alzheimer’s caregivers. Aging Ment Health. 2011;15(6):663–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Cheng ST, Lam LC, Kwok T, Ng NS, Fung AW. Self-efficacy is associated with less burden and more gains from behavioral problems of Alzheimer’s disease in Hong Kong Chinese caregivers. Gerontologist. 2013;53(1):71–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Semiatin AM, O’Connor MK. The relationship between self-efficacy and positive aspects of caregiving in Alzheimer’s disease caregivers. Aging Ment Health. 2012;16(6):683–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Harmell AL, Mausbach BT, Roepke SK, Moore RC, von Kanel R, Patterson TL, et al. The relationship between self-efficacy and resting blood pressure in spousal Alzheimer’s caregivers. Br J Health Psychol. 2011;16(Pt 2):317–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Gitlin LN, Rose K. Impact of caregiver readiness on outcomes of a nonpharmacological intervention to address behavioral symptoms in persons with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;2.

  83. Folkman S. The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2008;21(1):3–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Saslow LR, Cohn M, Moslowitz JT. Positive affect interventions to reduce stress: Harnessing the benefit while avoiding the Pollyanna. In: Gruber J, Moskowitz JT, editors. The Dark and Light Sides of Positive Emotions New York. Oxford; 2014. p. 515. A comprehensive review of the history of work, the theoretical frameworks, and studies in positive emotions as a strategy for coping with stress.

  85. Kabit-Zinn J. Full catastrophe living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Dell Publishing; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Whitebird RR, Kreitzer M, Crain AL, Lewis BA, Hanson LR, Enstad CJ. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial. Gerontologist. 2013;53(4):676–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Brown KW, Coogle CL, Wegelin J. A pilot randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for caregivers of family members with dementia. Aging Ment Health. 2015;27:1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Hou RJ, Wong SY, Yip BH, Hung AT, Lo HH, Chan PH, et al. The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the mental health of family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial. Psychother Psychosom. 2014;83(1):45–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Lavretsky H, Epel ES, Siddarth P, Nazarian N, Cyr NS, Khalsa DS, et al. A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013;28(1):57–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Dowling GA, Merrilees J, Mastick J, Chang VY, Hubbard E, Moskowitz JT. Life enhancing activities for family caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2014;28(2):175–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Wood AM, Froh JJ, Geraghty AW. Gratitude and well-being: a review and theoretical integration. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(7):890–905.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Lau BH, Cheng C. Gratitude and coping among familial caregivers of persons with dementia. Aging Ment Health. 2015;27:1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Shim B, Barroso J, Gilliss CL, Davis LL. Finding meaning in caring for a spouse with dementia. Appl Nurs Res. 2013;26(3):121–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. 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.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Cheng ST, Mak EP, Lau RW, Ng NS, Lam LC. Voices of Alzheimer caregivers on positive aspects of caregiving. Gerontologist. 2016;56(3):451–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Gitlin LN, Hodgson N. Caregivers as therapeutic agents in dementia dare: The context of caregiving and the evidence base for interventions. In: Gaugler JE, Kane R, editors. Caregiving in the New Normal. 1st ed.: Academic Press; 2015. p. 305. Provides a conceptual understanding of the experience of caregivers, a review of large-scale studies designed to improve caregiver outcomes, and suggestions for future research.

  97. Barton C, Merrilees J, Ketelle R, Wilkins S, Miller B. Implementation of advanced practice nurse clinic for management of behavioral symptoms in dementia: a dyadic intervention (innovative practice). Dementia (London). 2014;17.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCSF Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA, 94158-1207, USA

    Jennifer Merrilees

Authors
  1. Jennifer Merrilees
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Merrilees.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Jennifer Merrilees declares no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Dementia

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Merrilees, J. The Impact of Dementia on Family Caregivers: What Is Research Teaching Us?. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 16, 88 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0692-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0692-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation