Abstract: Objective: To investigate the problems and needs of home caregivers of the elderly with moderate to severe dementia. Methods: A total of 401 home caregivers of the elderly with moderate to severe dementia from 12 provinces were recruited to complete a self-designed questionnaire. Results: The top 5 safety risks among the elderly with moderate to severe dementia were irritating cough (30.2%), falls (28.4%), outreach (27.2%), lost (19.0%), and falling of bed (12.2%). The major problems reported by home caregivers were daily care (82.5%) and psychological behavior problems (51.9%). The top five caregivers' needs were caregiver's psychological adjustment skills guidance (88.5%), mental behavior response skills guidance (75.8%), daily life care skills guidance (73.1%), safety risk prevention skills guidance (72.8%), and community case management and referral services (70.8%). The top five ways to access support services were online training (86.5%), online counseling (86.0%), face-to-face counseling (84.0%), handbooks (78.8%) and community-based lectures (74.6%). Conclusion: Demented elderly home caregivers have diversified needs. It is recommended to take care of the needs of caregivers and use a variety of online and offline channels to integrate skills guidance, education and direct care services into a support system for demented elderly care.

Key words: dementia; caregivers; family care; troubles; needs