Astrid Stephan

TL;DR: No one-size-fits-all approach can be offered to guide informal caregivers when facing the possibility of institutionalization of the person with dementia, because of a wide variation in reasons between countries.

TL;DR: Cross-country differences in caregiver burden and health-related quality of life of informal caregivers of people with dementia in eight European countries may be related to differences in health and social care systems.

TL;DR: In this article, a survey of European support systems and professionals involved in the development of a dementia support system for informal caregivers is presented, where the authors investigate the availability and utilization of support in each of the participating countries, and the professional care providers involved through the dementia disease.

TL;DR: A dyadic approach seems most suitable for dementia care, as focus of care is on the person with dementia and their informal caregivers, and a trusting relationship and a specific person or organization to contact seem to be indicators of best practice.

TL;DR: Cognitive functioning, functional rehabilitation and treatment of depressive symptoms should receive special attention, and quality of life of people with dementia does not necessarily decrease after institutionalization.