TY - JOUR
T1 - The dementia caregiver-a primary care approach
AU - Dang, Stuti
AU - Badiye, Amit
AU - Kelkar, Geetanjali
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Caring for loved ones with dementia is challenging and stressful for family members who have to provide the home care. The responsibility takes a huge physical, emotional, and financial toll on the caregivers, which is known as caregiver burden. The survival and quality of life of the dementia patient have been shown to be related to the well-being of the caregiver. An overwhelmed caregiver can result in premature institutionalization and increased health-care utilization, by both the patients and the caregivers. The physician should periodically assess caregivers for the level of perceived burden, presence of depression and anxiety, social support, behavioral problems in the care recipient, and coping strategies and help the patient and caregiver with advance care planning. Strategies that meld support, education, and practical counseling about common caregiving stresses and community resources seem to mitigate caregiver burden and depression.
AB - Caring for loved ones with dementia is challenging and stressful for family members who have to provide the home care. The responsibility takes a huge physical, emotional, and financial toll on the caregivers, which is known as caregiver burden. The survival and quality of life of the dementia patient have been shown to be related to the well-being of the caregiver. An overwhelmed caregiver can result in premature institutionalization and increased health-care utilization, by both the patients and the caregivers. The physician should periodically assess caregivers for the level of perceived burden, presence of depression and anxiety, social support, behavioral problems in the care recipient, and coping strategies and help the patient and caregiver with advance care planning. Strategies that meld support, education, and practical counseling about common caregiving stresses and community resources seem to mitigate caregiver burden and depression.
KW - Caregiver assessment
KW - Caregiver burden
KW - Caregiver education
KW - Practical solutions
KW - Support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149361407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=58149361407&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e318187cccc
DO - 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e318187cccc
M3 - Article
C2 - 19005434
AN - SCOPUS:58149361407
VL - 101
SP - 1246
EP - 1251
JO - Southern Medical Journal
JF - Southern Medical Journal
SN - 0038-4348
IS - 12
ER -