ABSTRACT
Over the past several decades a number of demographic trends, such as the increased
number of older people in the population, have increased the need for informal
caregiving. Generally, the prevalence of chronic conditions or illnesses such as dementia,
diabetes, heart disease, or stroke increase with age. Consequently, older adults (especially
the “oldest old”) are more likely to need some form of care or assistance. Approximately
7 million people older than 65 years have mobility or self-care limitations (Fig. 9.1) and
about 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The prevalence of AD
is expected to increase with the aging of the population. In fact, the prevalence rates for
dementia and AD double approximately every 5 years beyond the age of 65 years (Fig.
