The experience of primary and secondary caregivers caring for the same adult with Alzheimer's disease

We contrasted the experience of 63 pairs of primary and secondary caregivers caring for older adults with Alzheimer's disease, to better understand the nature of the burden experienced by each group. Primary and secondary caregivers appraised independence in activities of daily living and behavior problems of care recipients as similar. However, primary caregivers' burden was 10 points higher on the Zarit burden scale than secondary caregivers' (95% CI = 4.22, 15.68, p = .001). This difference in burden varied according to the burden domain examined. Behavior problems best predicted burden for primary caregivers. The age of care recipients best predicted burden for secondary caregivers. Multivariate regressions explained 63% of burden in primary caregivers and 22% in secondary caregivers. The burden experienced by primary and secondary caregivers varied despite similar appraisal of care recipients' limitations. Interventions aimed at alleviating burden need to consider these differences.