Type of elder impairment: Impact on caregiver burden, health outcomes and social supports

The burden of caregiving is compared between two groups of caregivers: those who provided care for elder family members with predominantly physical impairments (Group I, N = 95) and those who provided care for elders with predominantly cognitive impairment (Group II, N = 18). Between group comparisons were determined for mental health outcome (depression), physical health outcome (change in health status over caregiving period), burden (subjective and objective) and social support (informal and formal). There was no statistical differences between group I and group II for any of the dependent variables, suggesting that despite observable differences between the caregiving needs for elders with physical deterioration and elders with cognitive deterioration, the outcomes are similar in terms of stress and health outcomes.