As the 21st century approaches, ever-increasing life expectancy and longevity bring into awareness the concerns of an aging population. One of these concerns pertains to the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The cause of AD continues to baffle science in spite of its high research priority in recent years. However, while we wait for science to discover both causative and curative factors, the illness continues to take its toll, placing the burden of care on the families of those stricken. The increased responsibility for care of dementia patients by families in the community calls for interventions that reduce family stress and provide support for caregivers who manage the behavioral manifestations of the dementia.