Caregiver strain among dementia caregivers in Bangladesh: an assessment using the BRICSI

Abstract

This study investigates the multifaceted strain on caregivers of individuals with dementia in Bangladesh, a lower-middle-income country (LMIC). Using the Benjamin Rose Institute Caregiver Strain Instrument (BRICSI), a quantitative survey assessed four domains: Caregiver Mastery, Relationship Strain, Health Strain, and Social Isolation. Results revealed significant challenges—32.1% reported uncertainty in caregiving (low mastery), 39.3% felt manipulated by care recipients (relationship strain), and 41.1% experienced physical health decline. Clinical risk scores were high, with 48.2% for health strain (>10) and 28.6% for mastery (>8), especially among low-income urban female carers. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted support, including stress management and social support programs. The study highlights the link between caregiving demands and caregiver well-being, calling for LMIC-focused policies to address systemic support gaps (Cahill, 2020; Naheed et al., 2023). Although based on a small sample, the study contributes to global dementia care research and calls for further exploration.