The Importance of Bringing the Family Together. Exploring the Experience and Meaning of Family Health Conversations in Dementia Care

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate family members' experience of engaging in the "Family Health Conversations" intervention. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 15 family members who engaged in the intervention. The study used semi-structured interviews and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Through analysis and interpretation of the data, three themes were identified: 1) Support for navigating in unknown waters; 2) Bringing peace and relief to the family; 3) Involving the relative with dementia in Family Health Conversations. Family Health Conversations showed were beneficial to the families of persons with dementia and of great importance to both individual family members and the family. Involving the person with dementia in the Family Health Conversations was not always beneficial for the family. Conclusion: Deciding when to involve the person with dementia in Family Health Conversations requires thorough knowledge of the family as well as the person with dementia, to avoid excluding them. The intervention supports retaining selfhood and autonomy for the person with dementia, even when the individual did not participate in the conversation.