Caregiver Burden Scale
Caregivers often suffer burn out related to the changes they must face in their everyday life and routines. Caring for another - although rewarding, can be a very difficult and demanding of a person’s physical and emotional well being. The following questions reflect how people sometimes feel when they are taking care of another person. After each question, indicate how often you feel that way:
Never = 0; Rarely = 1 Sometimes = 2; Frequently = 3, or Nearly Always = 4.
There are no right or wrong answers. Total your score to assess your experience of burden. Early stage Alzheimer’s Disease, mid stage Alzheimer’s Disease, Pick’s Disease, Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD), Lewy Bodies Disease, non-specified Dementia or Memory Loss.
- Do you feel that your relative asks for more help than he or she needs?
- Do you feel that because of the time you spend with your relative, you do not have enough time for yourself?
- Do you feel stressed between caring for your relative and trying to meet other responsibilities for your family or work?
- Do you feel embarrassed over your relative's behavior?
- Do you feel angry when you are around your relative?
- Do you feel that your relative currently affects your relationship with other family members or friends in a negative way?
- Are you afraid about what the future holds for your relative?
- Do you feel your relative is dependent on you?
- Do you feel strained when you are around your relative?
- Do you feel your health has suffered because of your involvement with your relative?
- Do you feel that you do not have as much privacy as you would like, because of your relative?
- Do you feel that your social life has suffered because you are caring for your relative?
- Do you feel uncomfortable about having friends over, because of your relative?
- Do you feel that your relative seems to expect you to take care of them as if you were the only one they can depend on?
- Do you feel that you do not have enough money to care for your relative, in addition to the rest of your expenses?
- Do you feel that you will be unable to take care of your relative much longer?
- Do you feel you have lost control of your life since your relative's illness?
- Do you wish you could just leave the care of your relative to someone else?
- Do you feel uncertain about what to do about your relative?
- Do you feel you should be doing more for your relative?
- Do you feel you could do a better job in caring for your relative?
- Overall, how burdened do you feel in caring for your relative?
Total Score______
Using the scale below - assess your experience of burden. Note that scores of 41 or above indicate that a person may be experiencing caregiver burnout and high stress. Persons scoring in these ranges should discuss their feelings and needs with their physician or seek other caregiver support.
0 to 20 = little or no burden: 21 to 40 = mild to moderate burden;
41 to 60 = moderate to severe burden; 61 to 88 = severe burden.
Remember - there are many ways to reduce your caregiver stress and experience of burden. Seeking community support services may be one.
For more information about Alzheimer's disease, memory impairing illnesses and other support services for caregivers, please contact the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.
Pathways to Memory™ is a targeted memory enhancement program exclusively offered by Homewatch Caregivers. Pathways to Memory™ is designed to assist persons with a memory impairing illness improve their cognition and independence through one on one memory exercises with a trained Pathways Partner.
Contact us for more information about Pathways to Memory™ or to locate a Pathways provider in your area.
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