Character of the relationship with Alzheimer patient and the psychological costs of care

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. The aim of this study was to determine the dependence between the quality of the caregiver-patient relationship and the psychological costs the caregiver bears during the caregiving period. This study encompassed 292 caregivers (104 partners, 117 children and 71 friends or others persons). The study indicated the greatest level of depression and caregiving-related burdens in the spouses group, and the least in the friends/others group. The most important predictor of the level of burden in the caregiving role turned out to be the nature of the caregiver-patient relationship; however, a varying set of the signifi cance of individual elements of this relationship were indicated in different caregiver groups.