Experiences of adult family members of caregivers who give care to relatives with dementia

Abstract

Although much is known about caregiving by family members, there is little evidence on which to plan supports for adult family members of caregivers for relatives with dementia. The purpose of this study was to gain insights into the experience of being an adult family member of someone who provides care to a relative with dementia. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach to answer the research question: What are the experiences of adult family members as their family members provide care to a relative with dementia? Eight family members in a mid-sized Canadian city were interviewed. The findings show that caring for a relative with dementia has positive and negative impacts on other family members. The negative impacts were primarily characterized as strained relationships. Despite the negative impacts, family members remained committed to providing support to the caregivers. Implications for both practice and future research are discussed.