The onset of dementia caregiving and its longitudinal implications.

Abstract

This study examined patterns of entry into the caregiving role, and how onset influences outcomes pertinent to the caregiving process. Using 3-year longitudinal data, the present analysis classified dementia caregivers into I of 4 onset sequences: those whose entry into caregiving was defined by diagnosis, those who first recognized symptoms and then obtained a diagnosis, those caregivers who first recognized symptoms and then provided care, and those who provided care prior to diagnosis or recognition. Analyses revealed that respondents who experienced a less abrupt entry into caregiving were less likely to institutionalize their relatives and reported greater decreases in well-being. The findings point to the dynamic process that defines entry into caregiving and emphasize that how individuals assume caregiving roles have implications long after onset.