Health economic analysis on a psychosocial intervention for family caregivers of persons with dementia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Psychosocial intervention has shown positive effects on the caregivers' burden and satisfaction. The aims of this study were to describe the cost and cost-effectiveness of such an intervention. METHODS We analyzed resource use and costs of formal care for 308 persons with dementia and their caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). RESULTS The costs of home help services were lower in the subgroup of spouse caregivers in the intervention group and the cost of nursing home placement was lower in the intervention group. While the person with dementia lived at home, caregivers in the intervention group reported a higher HRQoL (p < 0.01). After the person with dementia had moved to a nursing home, spouses in the control group had a lower HRQoL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The result can be interpreted as a positive effect of the intervention focusing on the identified specific needs of the family caregivers.