Table 4.

Informal Caregivers’ Needs for Additional Professional Support in the Care for Persons with Dementia (in Percentages)

Needs for Additional Professional Support	Stages of Dementiaa			Total N=1494	p
	< 1 Year N=89	1-4 Years N=744	≥ 4 Years N=661
Advice
- I need to know what to do when the person with dementia is afraid, angry or confused	21.3	25.0	21.2	23.1	0.22
- I need to know how to deal with the apathy of the person with dementia	14.6	18.4	15.2	16.7	0.23
- I need to learn how to cope with changes in the behavior of the person with dementia	16.9	15.7	11.5	13.9	0.05
- I need to know how to undertake activities with the person with dementia	18.0	13.6	9.5	12.1	0.01
- I need to know how to deal with aggression of the person with dementia	6.7	11.8	12.6	11.9	0.28
Information
- I need information about the availability of professional support in the region	27.0	19.4	14.5	17.7	0.00*
- I need information about the legal regulations/allowances in case of admission to a nursing home or home for the elderly	12.4	14.8	14.7	14.6	0.83
- I need information about the progression of dementia	15.7	14.4	10.5	12.7	0.06
- I need information about the support offered by nursing homes	16.9	11.0	10.2	11.0	0.17
Emotional Support
- I need someone to take away the feeling that I am the only one looking after the person with dementia	14.6	12.9	14.4	13.7	0.69
- I need someone to look after the person with dementia now and then	7.9	14.7	12.1	13.1	0.12
Practical Support
- I need support with chores in and around the house (e.g. repairs, garden)	12.4	11.3	12.6	11.9	0.75

The questionnaire addressed a total number of 59 needs for additional support. This table reports the needs most frequently mentioned by informal caregivers.

^*Difference between the stages of dementia is statistically significant (chi-square test, p < 0.01)

^aEvaluated by the informal caregiver.