Risk and Resiliency Factors Related to Dementia Caregiver Mental Health

Altamirano, Olivia; Mamani, Amy Weisman de

doi:10.1111/famp.12569

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Our findings align with the recent development of an evolving resilience literature focused on dementia care partners’ experiences, most of which emphasize the importance of some of the behaviors included in the CP-R: problem-solving, self-care, learning, and the use of social support ( Altamirano & Weisman de Mamani, 2021 ; Liu et al, 2021 ; Nguyen, 2022 ). The CP-R framework brings together and organizes a broad range of behaviors that have served, individually or in combination, as intervention targets in different dementia care partner intervention models, such as Powerful Tools for Caregivers ( Won et al, 2008 ) and Resourcefulness Training ( Zauszniewski et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Validation and expansion of a behavioral framework for dementia care partner resilience (CP-R)

et al. 2023

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Background and objectives Resilience – the ability to bounce back after a stressor - is a core component of successful family caregiving for people living with dementia. In this manuscript, we describe the preliminary empirical validation of a new behavioral framework developed from existing literature for assessing care partner resilience, CP-R, and propose its potential value for future research and clinical care. Methods We selected 27 dementia care partners who reported significant challenges prompted by a recent health crisis of their care recipient from three local university-affiliated hospitals in the United States. We conducted semi-structured interviews to elicit care partners’ accounts of what they did to address those challenges that helped them recover during and after the crisis. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using abductive thematic analysis. Findings When persons with dementia experienced health crises, care partners described various challenges in managing new and often complex health and care needs, navigating informal and formal care systems, balancing care responsibilities with other needs, and managing difficult emotions. We identified five resilience-related behavioral domains, including problem-response (problem-solving, -distancing, -accepting, and -observing), help-related (help-seeking, -receiving, and -disengaging), self-growth (self-care activities, spiritual-related activities, and developing and maintaining meaningful relationships), compassion-related (self-sacrifice and relational compassion behaviors), and learning-related (learning from others and reflecting). Discussions and implications Findings support and expand the multidimensional CP-R behavior framework for understanding dementia care partner resilience. CP-R could guide the systematic measurement of dementia care partners’ resilience-related behaviors, support individual tailoring of behavioral care plans, and inform the development of resilience-enhancing interventions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Validation and expansion of a behavioral framework for dementia care partner resilience (CP-R)

et al. 2023

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“…Family interventions designed to improve communication, family cohesion, and flexibility may serve as preventive strategies, helping to improve the mental health of both primary and secondary caregivers [ 56 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary and Secondary Caregivers of People with Dementia (PwD): Differential Patterns and Implications for Psychological Support

et al. 2022

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Very little attention has been paid to identifying the differential characteristics of primary and secondary dementia caregivers. The aims of this study were: to determine whether differences exist between primary and secondary caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) and to explore the profile of primary and secondary caregivers reporting symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The participants were 146 caregivers of PwD, 73 primary caregivers and 73 secondary caregivers. The results revealed different patterns for each type of caregiver. Primary caregivers showed a more negative profile in terms of poorer self-rated health and higher levels of anxiety and depression: 61.6% of primary and 42.5% of secondary caregivers reported symptoms of anxiety, and 24.7% and 11% reported depression, respectively. The frequency of problem behavior, subjective burden, health, and the comorbidity between anxiety and depression were associated with depression and anxiety among primary caregivers, whereas gender (being a woman), subjective burden, health, and the comorbidity between anxiety and depression were associated among secondary caregivers. These findings may help to guide professionals in targeting psychological support programs and customizing the strategies and skills that need to be provided in accordance with the type of caregiver in question: primary or secondary. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

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Cognitive dysfunction and disturbed daily activities of people with dementia impact the psychological stress in family caregivers depending on their anxiety and depression severity

Orlova,

Boiko,

Bodnar

et al. 2024

Health Psychology Open

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Care for individuals with dementia, predominantly provided by family members, was associated with significant physical and emotional stress. Existing guidelines for supporting caregivers were frequently based on limited evidence. A cross-sectional clinical study involving 104 pairs of caregivers and individuals with dementia was conducted. The study evaluated psychological stress, anxiety, and depression levels among family caregivers, alongside the severity of dementia and challenges with daily activities faced by the individuals with dementia. The findings demonstrated that the severity of dementia in patients had a statistically significant impact on the psychological stress experienced by family caregivers, as did the challenges associated with daily activities. Furthermore, caregiver anxiety was shown to exacerbate their psychological burden, an effect amplified by greater difficulties in daily activities and higher dementia severity. Additionally, it was observed that caregivers’ psychological stress increased in correlation with heightened levels of depression, irrespective of the severity of dementia or the patient’s difficulties with daily activities.

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Risk and Resiliency Factors Related to Dementia Caregiver Mental Health

Cited by 3 publications

References 59 publications

Validation and expansion of a behavioral framework for dementia care partner resilience (CP-R)

Validation and expansion of a behavioral framework for dementia care partner resilience (CP-R)

Primary and Secondary Caregivers of People with Dementia (PwD): Differential Patterns and Implications for Psychological Support

Cognitive dysfunction and disturbed daily activities of people with dementia impact the psychological stress in family caregivers depending on their anxiety and depression severity

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