ABSTRACT: Informal caregivers of individuals suffering from dementia play a crucial role in the American healthcare system. With more than 50 percent of individuals suffering from dementia being cared for at home in the United Sates, the healthcare system is relieved from high economic and social costs. The caregiving experience, however, affects caregivers’ physical and mental health. Little is known how the caregiving experience affects Hispanics, a population that has increased rapidly and has become the largest minority group in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant association between stress and social support experienced by Hispanic informal caregivers of dementia patients. Design: Using a convenience sampling method, 35 Hispanic informal caregivers from New Mexico participated in a cross-sectional survey. Participants were providing or managing the care for a family member suffering from dementia. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between patient’s dementia status and caregiver’s stress and social support. Results: Seventy four percent of caregivers were females, mostly daughters of patients. Caregivers scored in the moderate range of stress and there was a significant, positive association between patients’ problematic behavior and caregivers’ stress (r=.420, p<.05). It was also found that there was a significant, negative association between caregivers’ stress and informal social support (r=-.407, p<.05), but there was no significant association between caregivers’ stress and formal social support. Hispanic caregivers relied more on relatives than friends to receive social support. On average, the caregivers received support from 1.26 relatives. These findings suggest that among Hispanic caregivers of dementia patients there is a gender-biased pattern of familial transmission of responsibility for the care of relatives suffering from dementia and that such responsibility becomes an important source of stress, especially if the patient shows problematic behaviors. Findings also suggest that Hispanic informal caregivers do not rely on assistive services as much as they do on family to take care of someone with dementia. This study suggests that health education interventions designed for Hispanic caregivers should be family-based and include strategies of social support for stress management. Future research should explore if Hispanic cultural values such as familialism and personalism influence Hispanic caregivers’ stress levels and social support preferences.