Change mechanisms of support groups for caregivers of dementia patients.

The support group is an important means of providing help to families of demented elderly. In the Netherlands, the support group is widely used in mental health care. (Quasi-)experimental studies, however, have not established its effectiveness. In this article, an overview of the Dutch support groups and a review of the literature are given. In addition, a study among 110 participants of support groups is presented. Quantitative analyses show that the support group is especially effective in caregivers who are dissatisfied about their role as caregiver and have no job. Support groups are also more effective when the elderly person is more apathetic and lives in a nursing home. Interviews with caregivers show that the participants experience four forms of support: information, advice on how to cope with the situation, and moral and emotional support. These ways of support provide caregivers with a better perspective on their situation and help them to better cope with problems and emotions.