Abstract
An increasing number of second marriages, coupled with the growing population of older individuals who become victims of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other disabling dementias, is giving rise to a large group of later-life, remarried caretakers. This subgroup of caretakers face a formidable double burden. Like all AD caregivers, they must confront the emotional and physical demands of providing care for their dementing spouse. This stress is compounded by the additional challenge of negotiating within a stepfamily system that may well rest on a precarious equilibrium. As a result, health care professionals must become attuned to the synergistic effects of the special psychological problems of these stepfamily caregivers. The juxtaposition of AD and later-life remarriage also gives rise to complicated financial and legal issues that should be addressed by an attorney with expertise in this field.
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