Couples with an elderly parent with Alzheimer's disease: perceptions of familial relationships.

This study examined family relationships in families with and without an elderly parent with Alzheimer's disease. Spouses (29 pairs with an Alzheimer's diseased parent; 29 pairs with a healthy elderly parent) completed questionnaires regarding their perceived relationships with each other, their parent, and one of their own children (aged 8-18). In addition, they completed surveys that inquired about feelings of burden regarding the target parent. Couples perceived a poorer relationship with parents with Alzheimer's disease when contrasted to couples who had a healthy elderly parent. In addition, wives with an Alzheimer's parent also tended to have a more negative relationship with their husbands than wives who had a healthy parent. Perceptions of burden were associated with poorer spousal relationships for wives but not husbands.