ABSTRACT
Main indications Assessment of the feelings of burden of caregivers in caring for an older person with dementia.
Commentary Twenty-nine patients with senile dementia and their caregivers were interviewed, and the Burden Interview was compared with measures of cognitive function (Khan Mental Status Questionnaire; Khan et al, 1960), a measure of mental state (Jacobs et al, 1977), a measure of the Memory and Problems Checklist and activities of daily living as assessed by scales described by Lawton (1971). The amount of burden assessed was found to be less when more visits were made by carers to the patient with dementia, and severity of behavioural problems was not associated with higher levels of burden. The paper was one of the earlier studies to underscore the importance of providing support to caregivers in the community care of older people with dementia.
