Caregiver burden outcomes

Most people with dementia live at home with their family, friends or another person who assists them in managing day to day life. In the USA approximately 49% of these caregivers are spouses of the patient, 45% are children, 77% are women and 73% are over 50 years of age. The responsibility or 'burden' of caring for a person with dementia is immense, and it has become common to refer to the caregiver as a second patient. The time demands of caregiving for a person with dementia have been referred to as the '36 hour day'. Estimates range from 50 to 286 hours per month, with time demands increasing as the illness progresses