Developing a Unifying Model of Resilience in Dementia Caregiving: A Scoping Review and Content Analysis

Abstract

Resilience, a capacity for addressing, recovering, and growing from challenging situations, can mitigate dementia care partners’ burden. Three main theoretical models predominate, treating resilience variably as an outcome, a trait, or a process. In this scoping review, we examine how these three models inform definitions and measures of resilience in dementia care partners to understand whether there is a single coherent model and identify the gaps in conceptualizing and operationalizing resilience. We searched English-language peer-reviewed articles (January 1991–June 2019) that contained definitions and/or measures of resilience developed for or used with dementia care partners. Data were analyzed using content analysis. We found that perspectives from the three existing theoretical models can be integrated into a unified framework for the study of resilience in dementia care partners. However, major gaps remain in operationalizing resilience for research due to a paucity of resilience outcomes and knowledge about resilience-related behaviors.

“It’s Like Juggling, Constantly Trying to Keep All Balls in the Air”: A Qualitative Study of the Support Needs of Working Caregivers Taking Care of Older Adults

“…This included helping them recognize their own needs and limits, and adapt to future changes in the health and care of their loved ones [ 30 , 41 , 42 ]. Our findings align with a growing body of literature that focuses on increasing caregiver resilience, i.e., the ability to adapt to changes and challenges in their own and the care recipients’ lives, as a potentially effective way to support caregivers [ 34 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. The findings in this study further contribute to this knowledge by providing several ways in which caregivers could be empowered to improve their resilience, e.g., by providing coaching, professional support (e.g., help in anticipating future steps), caregiver support groups, training and information to caregivers.…”

Introduction and Psychometric Validation of the Resilience and Strain Questionnaire (ResQ-Care)— A Scale on the Ratio of Informal Caregivers' Resilience and Stress Factors

“…As both the BSS and PSS-4 were designed for very broad populations, it is important to keep in mind that burden and stress factors in informal caregivers share specific components that are not captured by the very general scales. In line with this, Zhou et al ( 27 ) also advocate for a specific definition of resilience in the context of caregiving.…”

Family’s Resilience in Caregiving Elderly With Dementia: A Systematic Review

“…Other factors related to the caregiver's view of resilience include being considered a life goal, perspectives, and resources for caregivers. 4 For spouses who are carers, resilience is often described as a continuous process that helps them maintain couplehood, a sense of togetherness, and reciprocity in their relationship. 15 Many caregivers consider resilient conditions as a value, a resource or a result of being caregivers.…”

“…3 The burden experienced by the caregiver can be influenced by the level of selfresilience. 4 Resilience is a process in which individuals exhibit positive adaptation despite exposure to adverse life events, such as a diagnosis of dementia. 4 These subjective measures can be biased by people's tendency to overestimate their resilient abilities or underestimate it in response to conditions such as depression.…”

“…4 Resilience is a process in which individuals exhibit positive adaptation despite exposure to adverse life events, such as a diagnosis of dementia. 4 These subjective measures can be biased by people's tendency to overestimate their resilient abilities or underestimate it in response to conditions such as depression. Caregivers who consider themselves highly resilient are often not tough and vice versa.…”