Relatives of the Impaired Elderly: Correlates of Feelings of Burden

Factors contributing to feelings of burden of caregivers of elderly persons with senile dementia were studied. The amount of burden of caregivers was found to be less when more visits were paid to the dementia patient by other relatives. Severity of behavioral problems was not associated with higher levels of burden. The results suggest the importance of providing support to caregivers as a critical step in the community care of elderly persons with dementia.