To Be a Good Food Provider: An Exploratory Study Among Spouses of Persons With Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Large proportions of people with dementia live at home and need help from a relative. The aim of the current study was to examine how people living with persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) perceived everyday life aspects of food choices, cooking, and food-related work. The analyses are based on focus group interviews including women and men acting as caregivers to people with AD and living in Sweden. The main results identified from the data, were how cohabitants to persons with AD struggle with either taking on a new role as a food provider or extending it, but also how they tried to cope as carer, which entailed food being an important part of the treatment of the disease. Those expressing greatest concern were those perceiving themselves as inexperienced food providers and carers, which in this study were all men.

Living with a partner with dementia: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of spouses' lived experiences of changes in their everyday lives

“…Subtheme (1) Transition in marital relation in everyday life (Bergman et al, 2016;Boylstein & Hayes, 2012;Ducharme et al, 2013;Fjellstr€ om et al, 2010;Hellstr€ om et al, 2017;Lin et al, 2012;Madsen & Birkelund, 2013;Massimo et al, 2013;O'Shaughnessy et al, 2010;Quinn et al, 2008;Vikstr€ om et al, 2008). Subtheme (2) Management of transformed marital relation (Bergman et al, 2016;Boyle, 2013;Fjellstr€ om et al, 2010;Hellstr€ om et al, 2017;Hellstr€ om et al, 2007;Madsen & Birkelund, 2013;O'Shaughnessy et al, 2010;Pretorius et al, 2009;Quinn, Clare, & Woods, 2009;Shim et al, 2013;Vikstr€ om et al, 2008 ( Ducharme et al, 2013).…”

“…Subtheme (2) Management of transformed marital relation (Bergman et al, 2016;Boyle, 2013;Fjellstr€ om et al, 2010;Hellstr€ om et al, 2017;Hellstr€ om et al, 2007;Madsen & Birkelund, 2013;O'Shaughnessy et al, 2010;Pretorius et al, 2009;Quinn, Clare, & Woods, 2009;Shim et al, 2013;Vikstr€ om et al, 2008 ( Ducharme et al, 2013). Other spouses found it beneficial to talk to friends and joining the Alzheimer's Society, as it helped them understand dementia and proved supportive as mutual experiences were shared (Quinn et al, 2008).…”

“…These issues appear to be inter-related. Spouses experienced changes in their marital relationships due to changed roles, and as a consequence of their partners being unable to perform tasks as before (Boylstein & Hayes, 2012;Ducharme et al, 2013;Fjellstr€ om et al, 2010;Massimo, Evans, & Benner, 2013;O'Shaughnessy, Lee, & Lintern, 2010;Quinn et al, 2008;Vikstr€ om, Josephsson, Stigsdotter-Neely, & Nygard, 2008). Overall, spouses experienced both mental and practical effects as a result of increased responsibility and more duties and worries (Bergman et al, 2016).…”

“…Some spouses were able to maintain some degree of collaboration and assistance (Vikstr€ om et al, 2008). Spouses who previously had worked together on household chores felt lonely, especially when it was difficult to include their partner (Fjellstr€ om et al, 2010). The changed role from spouse to caregiver was frustrating for some (Boylstein & Hayes, 2012), especially as the caregiver role became increasingly dominant (Ducharme et al, 2013).…”

The impact of dementia on women internationally: An integrative review

“…Most partners or adult children providing long-term support for someone living with dementia will experience relational and role change (Dunham & Cannon, 2008;Boylestein & Hayes, 2012;Toepfer et al, 2014) whereby they will eventually see themselves as a carer or caregiver -and these dynamics are often experienced differently for women and men (Carter et al, 2012;Boylestein & Hayes, 2012;Baker & Robertson, 2008;Friedmann & Buckwalter, 2014;Eriksson et al, 2013;Hayes et al, 2010;Russell, 2007;Calasanti & King, 2007;Dunkle et al, 2014). While husbands appeared to find it more challenging to adapt to taking on new daily household tasks, such as taking on the role of being the food provider (Russell, 2007;Boyle, 2013;Fjellström et al, 2010), adding to their stress as a caregiver, they were more likely to ask for help to perform these tasks (Sun et al, 2008), and have more informal help (Brown et al, 2007;Forbes et al, 2008). Women were reported to be more prepared to take on additional gendered tasks, and it was often viewed as a gradual extension of their existing work within their household (Calasanti & Bowen, 2006).…”