Dementia caregiving characteristics, elder impairment, and caregiver strain and burden

This study assessed the influence of caregiver characteristics on perceived elder impairment, caregiver burden, and caregiver strain in a study of 292 dementia caregivers in Iowa. Hierarchical regression analyses evaluated caregiver characteristics as predictors of perceived elder impairment, caregiver strain, and caregiver burden. Caregiver characteristics played little role in predicting perceived elder impairment, caregiver strain, or caregiver burden. However, the perceived level of elder impairment in the care recipient was highly associated with feelings of caregiver burden and strain. Caregiver strain also significantly mediated the relationship between elder impairment and caregiver burden. Future research should look more closely at specific types of elder impairment and the relationship between elder impairment, strain, and burden.