Category: Dementia – Supporting Carers

This article aims to explore spouse caregivers’ means of coping with the disease and compare them based on the age of onset of the disease in order to adapt support programs. The statistical results show that some strategies were used by the two groups of caregivers. However, when differences emerged, the “Planning” strategy was used by spouse caregivers of PEOD (of persons with early onset dementia ), whereas the “Re-arranging”, “Humor” and “Getting away from the entourage” strategies were used by spouse caregivers of PLOD (persons with late-onset dementia)

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An approach to psychotherapy that integrates cognitive-behavioral, existential, experiential, and psychodynamic perspectives can help family members caring for an individual with dementia approach the challenges and stresses of caregiving in more effective, thoughtful, and connected ways.
This article focuses on the process of helping caregivers differentiate challenges that require perseverance from goals that are unrealistic, face emotions evoked when limits are reached, and stumble toward acceptance and growth.

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The burden on those caring for a person with dementia is substantial. Although quality research assists in addressing the needs of these caregivers, recruiting caregivers into clinical studies is often problematic. This investigation explores the difficulties and successes in recruiting dementia caregivers into community-based clinical research.
This study has generated new insights into the effective recruitment of dementia caregivers into clinical trials. We anticipate that these lessons learnt will assist in shaping the recruitment strategies of future studies of dementia caregivers

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Dementia is one of the most challenging age-related illnesses for family caregivers, whose care-related burden is well known. Research indicates that day care centres (DCCs) can reduce the caregiver burden and help family caregivers to cope with demands; however, the current body of knowledge is still tentative and inconsistent, and more research is recommended. The aim of this study is to provide an extended understanding of the situation of family caregivers and to examine to what extent DCCs can meet their need for support and respite.

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Persons with dementia (PWD) still retain an ability to express emotions, to appreciate arts and to take part in creative activities. In this study we investigated the effects of artistic-expressive therapies on the quality of the relationship between PWD and their family caregivers (FC). Our results showed that agitation behaviour is rare during artistic-expression activities, while positive emotions and active participation are very frequent in both PWD and FC. These results suggest a way to improve relationship between the caregiver and the person assisted.

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This article aims to examine the effects of a telephone-delivered intervention, Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking-Caregiver (FITT-C), on community support and healthcare use by dementia caregivers. It concludes that an entirely telephone-delivered intervention was effective in increasing caregiver engagement in community resources and reducing caregiver use of hospital-based healthcare resources. Results highlight the potential effect of FITT-C on healthcare use.

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Most health outcome measures for chronic diseases do not incorporate specific health goals of patients and caregivers. To elicit patient-centered goals for dementia care, we conducted a qualitative study using focus groups of people with early-stage dementia and dementia caregivers.
Participants identified 41 goals for dementia care within five domains (medical care, physical quality of life, social and emotional quality of life, access to services and supports, and caregiver support). Caregiver goals included ensuring the safety of the person with dementia and managing caregiving stress. Participants with early-stage dementia identified engaging in meaningful activity (e.g., work, family functions) and not being a burden on family near the end of life as important goals. Participants articulated the need to readdress goals as the disease progressed and reported challenges in goal-setting when goals differed between the person with dementia and the caregiver (e.g., patient safety vs. living independently at home.

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Hospice offers holistic support for individuals living with terminal illness and their caregivers. However, some individuals who enroll onto hospice services do not decline in health as quickly as determined by current regulations, termed a ‘live discharge.’ Persons with dementia are among those who experience a live discharge due to the slow physical decline associated with the disease. When a live discharge occurs, it affects not only the patient but also the caregiver(s).
Results of this study have implications for social workers supporting an increasing aging population and their caregivers in various health care settings and highlight the need to view a live discharge as a discharge of the patient-caregiver unit, rather than the patient alone.

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Informal caregivers (often, but not exclusively, family members) are essential to the clinical care of a patient with dementia. Most caregivers are untrained and unpaid. As a result, caregivers often experience stress caused by the caregiving experience; they are the “invisible second patients” in dementia care. Clinicians can help caregivers by supporting them in their role and by referring them to additional resources for support.

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The evidence base for dementia care management interventions for informal caregivers (CGs) is strong, yet enrollment and sustained engagement in academic and community-based research trials is low. This study sought to examine rates and correlates of participation in a community-based, telephone-delivered dementia care management program designed to address logistic and practical barriers to participation in CG trials and services.
A significant proportion of CGs refuse free, convenient, evidence-based dementia care management services, underscoring the need for further examination of correlates of program acceptance. Nonetheless, community-based programs that address barriers may improve enrollment and engagement rates among CGs, including those who are especially vulnerable to negative CG and CR outcomes.

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