The Burden of Informal Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients: An Estimation to Portugal

Abstract

The demographic phenomenon of ageing is speeding up in Europe. People live longer and so the prevalence of dementia increases, including Alzheimer's disease. This is a progressive disease in which people slowly lose their cognitive and physical capacities until death takes over. Alzheimer's disease not only imposes a very high burden in the affected person but also inflicts a high and overwhelming burden of the caregivers. The carers' burden includes health deterioration, labour damaging and loses and financial and social costs, while the care provided is not well valued. The aim of this chapter is to review the main trends and concepts related to ageing, care-givers and Alzheimer's disease. It also presents the economic burden associated with the disease and the monetary value of the care provided by caregivers in Portugal.