There is a current trend towards maintaining dementia patients at home and postponing institutionalization as long as possible. Previous research has suggested that frequency of help and support received by the caregiver is more predictive of burden than memory or behavior problems of the patient. Burden and distress were investigated using a sample of husbands (N=14) and wives (N=15) who served as caregivers to a demented spouse. Results from standardized instruments and qualitative questions revealed that the quality of social support was the best predictor of burden and distress for both husbands and wives. Memory and behavior problems were more important to wives while current functioning in the family role was more important to husbands. The measures suggest more variance for burden than distress, indicating a common subjective dimension. (Author/JAC)