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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2009 Oct-Nov;24(5):377–383. doi: 10.1177/1533317509340025

The Caregiver’s Burden of Alzheimer Patients: Differences Between Live-In and Non-Live-In

Alessandra Raccichini 1, Simona Castellani 2, Patrizia Civerchia 3, Paola Fioravanti 4, Osvaldo Scarpino 5
PMCID: PMC10846020  PMID: 19571326

Abstract

The objective of our study was to describe the burden of a sample of 208 live-in/non-live-in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We analyzed the statistical correlation between Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and the live-in/non-live-in caregiver status, and between the ‘‘objective burden,’’ the cognitive deterioration, functional ability, and psychic and behavioral disorders. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), the live-in groups of caregivers were compared to each subscale and to the total CBI. Living with a patient causes a bigger burden associated to the ‘‘developmental and physical burden,’’ which is affected more by the functional impairment than by the cognitive-behavioral aspect. Understanding the aspects of this burden in the initial-intermediate phase of the disease and being able to monitor it over time could contribute to improving the interventions already in place, which affect burden, stress, and quality of life of caregivers and their sick family members.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Caregiver Burden Inventory, live-in caregivers, non-live-in caregivers

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Contributor Information

Alessandra Raccichini, Neurology Unit, Geriatric Hospital, Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura Anziani (INRCA), Ancona, Italy, alessandraraccichini@tiscali.it .

Simona Castellani, Neurology Unit, Geriatric Hospital, Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura Anziani (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.

Patrizia Civerchia, Neurology Unit, Geriatric Hospital, Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura Anziani (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.

Paola Fioravanti, Neurology Unit, Geriatric Hospital, Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura Anziani (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.

Osvaldo Scarpino, Neurology Unit, Geriatric Hospital, Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura Anziani (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.

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