Table 1 Characteristics of the informal caregivers and the people with dementia at the baseline

 Age, years

67.4 (±8.1)

64.1 (±10.6)

 Women

16 (84)^d

16 (84)^c

Number of children

 1

3 (18)

8 (44)

 2

8 (47)

9 (50)

 3

5 (29)

1 (6)

 5

1 (6)

0

Level of education

 No educational degree (max. 7 years of education)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 School-leaving certificate

3 (16)

2 (11)

 General Certificate of Secondary Education

8 (42)

13 (68)

 Higher education entrance qualification (A-levels)

8 (42)

4 (21)

Level of occupational education

 None

0 (0)

0 (0)

 Occupational training

12 (63)

13 (68)

 Academic qualification between 3 and 5 years

7 (37)

6 (32)

 Currently employed

6 (32)

8 (42)

 Living with person with dementia (Yes)

16 (84)

14 (78)^c

 Relationship to person with dementia, spouse

12 (63)

11 (61)^c

 Self-rated psychological HRQoL score (0–100)

45.2 (±8.5)

37.0 (±10.7)^c

 Self-rated physical HRQoL score (0–100)

45.5 (±10.3)

44.9 (±11.9)^c

 Social support score (9–45)

28.5 (±9.3)

23.6 (±9.3)

 Social conflict score (3–15)

6.3 (±3.7)

6.7 (±3.6)

 Caregiver self-esteem (7–35)

27.2 (±4.8)

25.1 (±5.5)^d

 Lack of family support (5–25)

13.4 (±5.6)

13.2 (±4.0)

 Impact on finances (3–15)

7.6 (±3.3)

8.3 (±2.8)

 Impact on daily schedule (5–25)

18.6 (±3.6)

18.2 (±2.4)

 Impact on health (4–20)

10.5 (±2.6)

11.2 (±3.2)^c

 Age, years

76.3 (±8.3)^c

76.0 (±8.0)^c

 Women

4 (22)^c

8 (44)^c

 Years living with dementia diagnosis

6.8 (±5.2)^c

6.2 (±12.4)^c

Care dependency level^e

 None

3 (17)

5 (28)

 1

2 (11)

7 (39)

 2

10 (56)

3 (17)

 3

3 (17)

3 (17)

Cognition (6–0)

  = 0

14 (78)

11 (61)

  ≥ 1

4 (22)

7 (39)

 Activities of daily living score (0–30)

26.2 (±6.2)^c

21.6 (±7.0)^c