Informal dementia caregivers’ experiences and perceptions about mealtime care: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Abstract

Aims To systematically identify, evaluate and synthesize the available qualitative evidence on the mealtime care experiences of informal caregivers of people with dementia. Design A qualitative evidence synthesis using the Thomas and Harden method. Data Sources All qualitative and mixed‐method studies in English and Chinese were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, CNKI, WanFang, and Vip from the inception of each database until November 2019. Review Methods Two researchers independently selected the studies using qualitative assessment and review instruments for quality evaluation and thematic synthesis for the data analysis. Results Ten studies were chosen for this review. The analytical themes identified included injecting a new element, moving forward in the challenge and external supports facilitating better coping. Conclusion Community nurses should effectively use resources to provide food‐related information and services to families with dementia. Future research should combine informal caregiver experiences and clinical skills to develop high‐quality interventions to improve the quality of mealtimes. Impact The findings established that informal caregivers experienced not only changes in their roles and concerns but also emotional changes. Informal caregivers develop different coping strategies to adapt to feeding issues without professional support. Although informal caregivers attach great importance to mealtimes and nutrition issues, they experience a lack of information and support services. Community nurses can provide more economical, practical, and accessible information resources based on informal caregivers’ perceptions of mealtime care. Future interventions need to be more aware of the importance of dyad or family‐centred support services.

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Difficulties experienced by caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease in relation to dietary care: integrative review

“…The study by de Li et al 13 demonstrates that access to information or services related to food would help informal caregivers to provide better mealtime care to people living with dementia. However, many caregivers stated that they had not received this information, which can also generate an overload, negatively impacting the quality and ability to prepare meals, affecting the nutritional status of individuals with dementia.…”

“…In general, these caregivers are women living in the same household as the elderly person, daughters, or spouses, with low education levels and performing daily activities voluntarily 10,12 . In the range of necessary care, nutritional attention stands out because, with increased dependence, the individual loses the ability to feed himself/herself 13 .…”

A systematic review of the application of a diary for people with dementia: how to maximise the effect of diary use?

“…Dementia is a progressive neurocognitive disorder characterised by a gradual insidious cognitive and functional decline that progressively affects daily activities. [1][2][3] Approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, and this number is expected to increase to 152 million by 2050. 4 The functional impairments associated with dementia are initially evident in the form of subtle errors rather than an obvious inability to complete specific tasks.…”

“…Dementia is a progressive neurocognitive disorder characterised by a gradual insidious cognitive and functional decline that progressively affects daily activities 1–3 . Approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, and this number is expected to increase to 152 million by 2050 4 .…”