Institutional placement: phases of the transition.

The consequences of institutionalization were examined for a sample of caregivers of dementia patients. Consistent with the stress process model, institutionalization was hypothesized to have a large impact on the primary effects of caregiving and lesser influence on secondary effects and well-being. Following placement, relatives experienced relief from primary effects of caregiving (e.g., feelings of overload and tension) and improved well-being, whereas other indicators of stress remained unchanged.