Caregiver burden and psychoeducational interventions in Alzheimer's disease: a review

N Beinart, J Weinman, D Wade, R Brady, N Beinart, J Weinman, D Wade, R Brady

Abstract

Background: Caring for a patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with poor quality of life and deteriorating health for the caregiver.

Methods: This comprehensive review was performed to investigate the current literature on caregiver burden, factors affecting caregiver burden and the effectiveness of different types of intervention.

Results: Successful psychoeducational interventions for caregivers have included provision of information about AD, care planning, advice about patient management and the importance of self-care, skills training to aid patient management, stress management training, and problem-solving and decision-making guidance.

Conclusion: Interventions that are individually tailored to the caregiver are particularly effective at reducing caregiver burden and should be further investigated. The use of effective pharmacological treatment for the improvement and/or stabilisation of AD symptoms in the patient is also likely to improve caregiver burden.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Care for the aged; Caregiver burden; Caregivers; Carer stress.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The negative effects of caregiving in AD.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Patient and caregiver attributes related to caregiver burden in AD.

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