THE MEASUREMENT OF CAREGIVER OUTCOMES IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE RESEARCH

The focus of this paper is on the measurement of outcomes for caregive rs of patients with Alzheimer disease and related disorders. The discu ssion addresses theory-based and proven measures and seven major measu rement domains: health effects, caregiver characteristics and contextu al measures, service utilization, burden, positive aspects of caregivi ng, quality of care provided, and measures related to normative caregi ver transitions such as institutionalization and death of the care rec ipient. Also provided are a brief summary of existing measurement appr oaches for assessing caregiver outcomes and general recommendations re garding the measurement of caregiver outcomes.