Caregiver burden (CB) has been defined as the combination of physical, psychological, financial, emotional, and social stressors experienced by individuals as a direct result of providing care to another. 1 CB is associated with level of impairment of the care recipient, number of hours spent on caregiving activities each week, caregiver stigma, use of coping strategies by the caregiver, the problematic behaviors exhibited by care recipients with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia (AD), and their self-efficacy in managing these behavioral problems. 2-5 In one study, more than two-thirds of the AD caregivers in the sample experienced high levels of burden. 6 CB is associated with poor physical health, anxiety, and depression among caregivers. 7,8 Also, AD caregivers with greater care demands are more likely to experience sleep disturbances. 9 Research has found that caregivers with higher incomes, greater educational attainment, and younger ages are less likely to report poor health. 7 African American AD caregivers are more likely than their non-Hispanic white counterparts to report having poor health. 10,11 When providing care becomes too stressful, the quality of care received declines and the care recipient often requires additional medical attention. 12 Hence, CB has been associated with negative outcomes for care recipients. Older adults receiving care from caregivers experiencing CB are at higher risk of premature institutionalization, hospitalization, and death. 13,14
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