Interventions for caregivers of persons with dementia: educational support groups and Alzheimer's association support...

This study compared three groups of dementia caregivers: educational support group (ESG) participants, Alzheimer's Association support group (AASG) participants, and a contrast group (CNG) of nonparticipants. ESG members reported lowest levels of care-receiver impairment. AASG members more frequently were wives, reported highest levels of care-receiver impairment, and expressed highest levels of concerns for themselves. CNG members reported lowest levels of concern for both themselves and their care receiver. As a means of further understanding why caregivers might have selected the ESG or the AASG, underlying group leader, group member, and group process characteristics were examined.