Support From Dementia Patients and Caregiver Burden: Exploring Variation by Caregiver Physical Health

TL;DR

This study shows that support from dementia patients can reduce caregiver burden, especially for those in better physical health.

Contribution

The study reveals how support from dementia patients affects caregiver burden differently based on the caregiver's physical health.

Findings

Frequent and high-quality emotional support from dementia patients is linked to lower caregiver burden.

The benefits of support are stronger for caregivers with better self-rated physical health.

Tailored interventions may be needed for caregivers with varying physical health conditions.

Abstract

A small but growing body of work suggests that caregivers still receive support from people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (PLWD). Yet, we know little about what characteristics of the support received from PLWD benefit caregivers and whether the benefits apply to all caregivers. The current study extended prior research by examining (a) how the frequency and quality of the support that caregivers received from PLWD were associated with caregiver burden and (b) whether these associations varied by caregivers’ own physical health. We analyzed data from 72 spousal caregivers of older adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers reported their own and partners’ demographic characteristics, the frequency and quality of support they received from PLWD, caregiver burden, and their physical health. Multiple regressions showed that receiving emotional support more often and receiving better-quality support were both associated with lower caregiver burden. These associations, however, were stronger among caregivers who self-rated better physical health. This study showcases the benefits of receiving support from PLWD and emphasizes the importance of facilitating mutually beneficial relationships in dementia caregiving dyads. Further, our findings can inform tailored interventions targeting caregivers with different physical health conditions.