Date of Award

5-2022

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

Public Health

First Advisor

Judith Tupper, DHEd, MCHES, CPPS

Second Advisor

Kandyce Powell, RN, MS

Third Advisor

Jane Conrad, J.D.

Keywords

Dementia, informal caregiver, qualitative research, grounded theory, inductive reasoning, theoretical sampling, constant comparison method.

Abstract

Introduction: In the US today, there are approximately 6.5 million people age 65 or older living with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. This number is expected to increase to 12.7 million by 2050. Dementia imposes debility and frailty upon those effected, which is progressive and often follows an unpredictable trajectory. This places significant burdens on their informal caregivers, negatively impacting financial security, emotional and physical health, and overall quality of life. Informal caregivers are a heterogeneous group of partners, spouses, adult children, family members and others. Purpose: This qualitative study explores the experiences, worries and concerns of informal caregivers of older adults with dementia, in order to describe improved policy and service delivery models that could provide efficient and sustainable solutions to their challenges. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven informal caregivers. Transcripts of these interviews were analyzed using the Grounded Theory analytic process referred to as the Constant Comparison Method, consisting of coding, memoing and theorizing. Results: Nine sub-categories and three categories were identified from analysis and data comparison The three categories were “Difficult day-to-day experiences and activities,” “ Inner thoughts and suffering” and “Hoping to make a difference. The final theme emerged as “Informal caregiving for older adults with dementia is a condition.” Some literature has referred to this as “caregiver stress” or the Caregiver Syndrome. Conclusion: Informal caregivers of older adults with dementia experience significant physical, and emotional stresses that result in concerns about their overall wellness. This in-turn impacts their ability to function as sustainable caregivers for their family members at home. Lack of reliable in-home personal care supports, patient companionship and respite result in excess worry, stress and loss of quality of life for the caregiver. Over a trajectory of years, inherent in the dementia diagnosis, informal caregivers are likely to encounter negative physical and mental health outcomes. Without changes in both policy and reimbursement through home health, hospice, palliative care and community-based resources, this condition of caregiver stress or “syndrome” will contribute to the ongoing challenges of caring for an ever-increasing number of vulnerable elderly individuals.

Comments

Community Partners The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care Augusta, Maine www.mainehospicecouncil.org Spectrum Generations Area Agency on Aging Home office: Augusta, Maine www.spectrumgenerations.org Eastern Area Agency on Aging Brewer, Maine www.eaaa.org Aroostook Agency on Aging Presque Isle, Maine www.aroostookaging.org

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.