Effects of Family Relationship on Burden of Family Caregivers of Older Adult with Dementia

The aim of this study was to examine the relation between primary family caregivers` burden and its related factors. The subjects were 151 primary family caregivers of older adults with dementia and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The majority of the primary caregivers was female (66.6%) and spouse(26.7%). The mean burden score was 85.9. The factors affecting the burden of primary family caregiver were Family Relationship, Caregiver`s Perceived Patient`s ADL, Average Caring Hours per Day, Health Status of Primary Family Caregiver (bad health), which explained 40.7% of their burden. Family relationship was the major factor, appearing as 22.1% of the burden. In the perspective of family, strategies to improve family relationship and health status and to decrease average caring hours per day are needed. In the perspective of older adults with dementia, strategies to improve and maintain ADL are needed.ope