Problems of caregiving spouses of patients with dementia.

Twenty-six caregiving spouses of patients with dementia in the Netherlands were interviewed to better understand their problems and needs. Special attention was paid to the information the caregivers received from their general practitioner. Nineteen caregivers indicated that they received little or no information about the disease and its possible consequences. Furthermore, they experienced many problems, because of the disease and the daily care they provided; eleven caregivers indicated a decrease in social contact, which resulted in further problems. Caregivers who sought professional help at an early stage experienced fewer problems in providing daily care. The results of this project suggest that in future health education policy special attention should be paid to the role of the general practitioner and to the importance of a caregiver's social network.