Variables Associated with High Caregiver Stress in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for Providers in a Co-Located Memory Assessment Clinic

摘要: Caregiver burden—the stress associated with caring for a loved one chronic illness—is rated as high or very by about two-thirds of Alzheimer's caregivers. At Wake Forest School Medicine, both patients memory loss cognitive impairment and caregivers are evaluated at geriatrician-led co-located Memory Assessment Clinic (MAC). In sample 100 MAC-evaluated patient-caregiver dyads this study assessed patient severity disease other dementia, self-reported behavioral disturbances, degree functional independence in general activities daily living instrumental (IADLs), caregiver measured the Burden Scale (CBS). Several factors were found to be related (CBS score > 25), particular moderate-severe dementia; inability perform most IADLs, especially managing medications; agitation/aggression appetite/eating problems. Th...