BMC Geriatr. 2026 May 15. doi: 10.1186/s12877-026-07616-2. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Caregivers of individuals with vascular dementia (VaD) face various physical and psychological burdens in their daily caregiving responsibilities. This role is challenging, demanding, and often stressful due to the symptoms characteristic of this condition. The aim of this study was to assess the level of burden experienced by caregivers of individuals diagnosed with vascular dementia.
METHODS: The study included a total of 351 participants. The research was conducted anonymously and voluntarily among informal caregivers of individuals with dementia. A survey questionnaire and the Caregiver Burden Scale (CB Scale) were employed. Statistical analysis was conducted using the χ² independence test, t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.
RESULTS: High caregiving burden was most commonly observed in the domains of General Burden (63.2%), Disappointment (59.8%), and Social Isolation (58.1%). A significantly lower percentage of caregivers reported high burden levels in the domains of Environmental Factors (36.8%) and Emotional Engagement (34.2%).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that caregivers of individuals with VaD experience particularly high levels of overall burden, social isolation, and a sense of disappointment. The findings highlight the need for early interventions focused on psychosocial support, as well as preventive programs aimed at reducing caregiver strain. In the broader perspective, these results may serve as a starting point for developing comprehensive models of home care and public health targeted at caregivers of individuals with VaD.
PMID:42141395 | DOI:10.1186/s12877-026-07616-2
