Caregiving Across the U.S.: BRFSS Data Reveal Impact of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

BACKGROUND: Little is currently known about the prevalence and health impacts of caregiving, especially at the state and local levels and for caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease, who are likely to have a greater burden than other caregivers. Population-based caregiving data are needed in order to design programs and policies to address this increasingly important public health issue.  Caregiver burden has been acknowledged as a national health priority in Healthy People 2020, under the Older Adults topic area. PURPOSE:  To compare the caregiving experiences, demographic factors, and health behaviors of caregivers who provided care to a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to caregivers who provided care to a person with any other type of health condition or disability.

METHODS: During 2010, five states included the optional Caregiver Module on their Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. In the study, we included the 23,158 respondents from these states who provided a valid answer (yes or no) to the caregiver screening question. 

RESULTS: In five of the six states analyzed as of December 30, 2011, there were 4,338 caregivers (19.7% weighted), of which 370 (7.5%) provided care to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.  Experiences between caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s or dementia varied from other caregivers.  Caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia were more likely to report that caregiving created a difficulty, and they provided more intense care over longer periods of time than other types of caregivers.  

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that there may be important differences between caregivers based on whether their care recipients have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Based on these data, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers may need interventions to reduce stress and prevent health problems related to caregiving more than other caregivers.