Implications of Alzheimer's disease for the caregiver's quality of life: A comparative study

Abstract

This study aimed to compare overall and dimension-specific perceptions of quality of life between a group of caregivers of elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease and a group of non-caregivers, matched for sociodemographic variables. Quality of life was measured with the Quality of Life Evaluation Scale in Alzheimer's Disease (Caregiver Version). Statistical analyses were performed (descriptive and ordinal logistic regression). Caregivers showed significantly higher odds of negatively evaluating the dimensions of physical health, disposition, mood, memory, you in general, and the capacity to perform leisure activities as compared to non-caregivers. Mean total quality of life score was 38.83 for caregivers and 41.81 for noncaregivers. The data suggest that contact with Alzheimer's disease negatively influences the total score and some dimensions of quality of life for family caregivers.