African American caregivers: perceptions of the caregiving situation and factors influencing the delay of the institutionalization of elders with dementia.

This study of 34 caregiver-patient dyads targeted the caregivers' perceptions about caregiving situations. Specific open-ended interview questions ascertained caregivers' perceptions specifically about community services and the factors which influence health care institutionalization. Issues raised include supportive services, caregiving assistants and non-obtainable health care services. Several delay factors were discovered including caregiving assistance from family members or networks of friends and outside social support systems. A qualitative method effectively captured revealing testimony about the caregiver-elder patient relationship.