title: Assessing family and staff caregiver outcomes in Alzheimer disease research.
abstract: Outcomes and measurement issues related to caregivers for persons with Alzheimer disease and related disorders are examined. Assumptions regarding the dynamic linkages between resident, family, and staff outcomes are reviewed, and potential sources of stress inherent in family adaptation to the institutional setting, role transitions, and emotional responses that occur with placement are examined. Family and staff caregiver outcomes that flow logically from treatment goals, and what can be expected if sources of transitional and institutional stress are ameliorated through successful family and staff-related interventions, are discussed. Instruments developed to evaluate family perceptions of care and the caregiving role in institutional settings are described. The article concludes with an analysis of measurement approaches, general measurement issues, and those more specific to family and staff caregivers, as well as recommendations for further development in this area.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Buckwalter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological