Multidimensional Biopsychosocial Assessments for Dementia Caregivers in the Us: A Case-Based Perspective

Approximately six million Americans aged 65 and older experience various stages of dementia. Supporting family caregivers of these individuals has become a crucial mission for social workers specializing in aging. Despite the growing need, few studies document the implementation of multidimensional assessments to identify caregivers’ unique needs and challenges. This paper, guided by a case-based approach, offers comprehensive guidelines, standardized assessment tools, and a real-life case study for biopsychosocial assessments with dementia family caregivers. Social workers in gerontology require specialized training in these comprehensive assessments and intervention strategies. The National Association of Social Work emphasizes the importance of these skills in social work education, highlighting the need for students to acquire them for effective interventions. Multidimensional assessments are essential due to the increasingly demanding caregiving needs as dementia progresses. Both persons with dementia and their caregivers require ongoing emotional, educational, and service support. This review introduces tools to evaluate the biopsychosocial status of a spousal caregiver and her partner with dementia, including intervention recommendations for the caregiver. The importance and limitations of standardized measurements are discussed, emphasizing their value for novice social workers in guiding interviews, tracking progress, and assessing changing needs to develop timely interventions.