title: Family support groups within a research project on dementia.
abstract: This is a report of three different support groups for caregivers of patients with senile dementia who were participating in a larger study of Alzheimer disease. One group consisted of structural, open-ended sessions while the other two were closed, time-limited groups. For this sample the most cohesive and supportive group was one which was unstructured and time-limited. It also consisted of caregivers whose relationships to the patients were similar (i.e., spouses). Recommendations for research and practice are made.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D012657:Self-Help Groups