Caregiver Self-Rated Health in Alzheimer's Disease

ABSTRACT Poorer self-rated physical health represents an important outcome of dementia caregiving. However, the impact of specific care-giver and patient factors on this variable remains unclear. This study investigated factors associated with perceived health status among 64 white non-Hispanic family caregivers of community-dwelling Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. In the current study, greater depressive symptoms reported by the caregiver and older caregiver age predicted poorer self-rated health. The results suggest caregiver variables, rather than patient characteristics, are the principal factors impacting the perceived physical adjustment of AD family caregivers in the community.