‘There is always good fortune in misfortune to encourage us in coping with difficulties’—The lived experiences of family caregivers of people with dementia during the COVID‐19 outbreak in China: A phenomenological study

Abstract

AimTo describe the lived experiences of family caregivers of individuals with dementia during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) outbreak in China.DesignThis study used a descriptive phenomenological research method.MethodsBetween May and September 2021, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 22 family caregivers of people with dementia. Colaizzi's method was used for manual analysis.ResultsQualitative data revealed an overarching experience of finding ‘There is always good fortune in misfortune to encourage us in coping with difficulties’. Three themes emerged: family reactions to the COVID‐19 outbreak, feeling supported by multiple resources performing respective functions and resilient adaptation to new situations.ConclusionDuring the COVID‐19 outbreak, family caregivers of people living with dementia in China looked for positive aspects among difficulties and experienced corresponding reactions, social support resources and resilient adapted coping styles.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareNurses in China and other countries facing similar pandemic characteristics, cultures or economic development levels, can guide family caregivers to look at family hardships from a positive perspective, develop interventions to rapidly respond to families' reactions after a disaster and help them identify social support resources and form adapted coping styles.ImpactWe identified the resilience and the positive experiences of Chinese family caregivers of individuals with dementia during the COVID‐19 outbreak. The results can inform countries with similar cultures and economic levels, offering measures to support their adaptation to pandemics.Reporting MethodThis study followed the COREQ guidelines.Patient or Public ContributionFamily caregivers of people with dementia who met the inclusion criteria and who were interested in sharing their understanding of their experiences, participated in the study.