Caregiving of a relative with dementia is considered a chronic stressful situation that generates physical and psychological strain and that may have negative effects on caregivers’ health. Many caregivers make the decision to enter their relatives in a nursing-home, however, there are few studies that analyze psychosocial (e.g., guilt) and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk (C-reactive protein, CRP) variables that are related to this decision during the caregiving process stress. The aim of this study was to analyze caregivers’ differences between caregivers who finish the role of caring of their relatives with dementia and those who continue their caregiving role throughout the process of caring in a 3-year period.

The sample consisted of 294 family caregivers of people with dementia and was divided in two groups; a) caregivers who institutionalized their relatives during a 3-year period (12.7%); and caregivers who maintained their role as caregivers (87.3%).

Preliminary results show that caregivers who institutionalized their relatives with dementia in some time point of the caregiving process presented at baseline more frequency of behavioral problems (t = -2.95; p < .01), more feelings of guilt (t = -3.52; p < .01) and compassion (t = -3.79; p < .01), reported less frequency of dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving (t = 1.99; p < .05) and presented higher levels of CRP (t = 2.72; p < .01), compared to caregivers who maintained their role as caregivers. In addition, caregivers who institutionalized their relative were younger (t= 2.13; p < .05) and reported more weekly hours (t= -3.46; p < .01) and more days (t= -3.01; p < .01) of home help compared to those caregivers who maintained their role. No significant effects were found for caregivers’ gender (p = .38), daily hours caring (t= 1.54; p = .13) nor time caring (t=-1.1; p = .27).

The results of this study present several clinical implications. Knowing variables that are related to the decision of institutionalization could prevent it as well as it can be useful to accompany caregivers by providing support throughout the entire process.