■      Cognitive impairment in patient, caregiver, or both

■      Dependency of the caregiver on the elderly patient, or vice versa

■      Family conflict

■      Family history of

- abusive behavior

- alcohol or drug misuse or abuse

- mental illness

- mental retardation

■      Financial stress or lack of funds to meet new health demands

■      Isolation of the patient or the caregiver, or both

■      Living arrangements inadequate for the needs of the ill person

■      Stressful events in the family, eg:

- death of a loved one

- loss of employment