Burden and stress on relatives (Informal carers) of dementia sufferers in psychogeriatric nursing homes

Abstract

The Zarit Burden Scale (ZBS), the 30‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and a General Knowledge Test of Dementia (GKT) were administered to the primary family carers (usually a spouse or daughter) of 51 patients with dementia who had been admitted to two psychogeriatric nursing homes for mobile disturbed dementia sufferers. Informal carers for these patients demonstrated significant levels of burden and psychological morbidity up to two years after their demented relatives' admission to the nursing home. Spouse carers and carers from non‐English speaking backgrounds demonstrated significantly more burden than other carers.