*The Burden of Informal Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients: An Estimation to Portugal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90673*

undertaken in order to alleviate the burden supported by these carers. For instance, substitute carers, supplied by the health or social system, could coordinate tasks and daily help so that the caregiver himself could have more time to do other things such as go medical consultations, sleep and perform other social activities. Another measure that would be welcome is to provide a complementary subsidy for the patient expenditures in medical treatment and formal care. In this way, the caregiver budget would be protected, and it could be used on the carer's own needs. Informal care is an increasing substitute and complement of formal care, and it should be valued from a societal perspective. Caregivers must be looked after and protected for their valuable contribution to society.
