Caring for a demented elderly person--burden and burnout among caregiving relatives

Fifty-two family caregivers for demented elderly people were investigated for burden and burnout experiences. A structured burden questionnaire and the Burnout Measure were used. Burnout is described in relation to the caregiver's gender, age, family relationship and the demented person's living place. Older wives and daughters were the most likely to report burnout in their lives. Some siblings and daughters-in-law also risked developing burnout. Regression analysis showed that limitation in social life, poor health and a lack of positive outlook on caring were the most important independent variables explaining variance in burnout among caregivers. There was no difference in burnout experiences between caregivers having their demented elderly person living at home and those having them in an institution.