STUDENT: Logan DeSanto

PROJECT ADVISOR: Milton Evans

ABSTRACT

Informal caregivers of individuals with dementia are often faced with many challenges while taking on the role as the primary caregiver for the person with dementia. The number of individuals with dementia is expected to increase over the years. In addition, a high percentage of individuals with dementia receive care at home by unpaid family members or friends. The role as a caregiver for these individuals includes providing care on top of other life demands, such as parenting, work, and relationships. Informal caregivers experience many effects of caregiver burden while providing care. Caregiver burden affects both the caregiver and care recipient. Despite the challenges and demanding efforts included in the role as an informal caregiver, caregivers are still motived to provide care at home. Respite care is an intervention utilized to reduce caregiver burden in caregivers, allowing caregivers to continue to provide efficient care. Respite care includes short-term breaks for caregivers. When respite care is utilized, caregivers reported a slight decrease in caregiver burden by experiencing reduced strain. In addition, caregivers have a decreased desire to seek out hospitalization for the individual with dementia. On the other hand, respite care has increased caregiver burden in these caregivers. This evidence-based practice paper examines the latest data regarding current studies on scheduled respites for caregivers of home adult dementia patients. Recommendations are made based on the results of these studies with a goal of decreasing caregiver burden.