When Grandparents Have Dementia

Abstract

This study aims to identify changes in adolescents' lives and in the relationships within the family when a family member has a dementia. Grandchildren living in Barcelona, Spain, participated in the study (N = 145). The data, based on both quantitative and qualitative information, showed that if the grandparent moved into the grandchildren's household, adolescents underwent changes in their daily activities and in their experience of caring for the grandparent. Participants showed mainly positive changes in their relationship with their parents and acknowledged the influences their parents have in their relationships with their cognitively impaired grandparent. Grandchildren experienced a closer relationship with the partner of the person with dementia, although they also mentioned difficulties in maintaining this relationship if this grandparent focuses his or her attention excessively on the care recipient. From a family systems perspective, we discuss the importance of the role of grandchildren in caring for a person with dementia.

Intervenciones Intergeneracionales Basadas Científicamente

“…La mayoría de los programas (N=14) se han llevado a cabo en EEUU, habiendo encontrado por el momento tan sólo una intervención desarrollada en España (Celdrán, Villar & Triadó, 2012). Respecto a la muestra, predominan los estudios con un tamaño medio de la misma, es decir, aquellos en que el número total de participantes oscila entre los 31 y los 100 individuos, siendo esta aleatoria en solo cuatro de los casos analizados (Boland, 2012;Coppola et al, 2012;Cordella et al, 2012;Jarrott et al, 2012).…”

“…Así, un registro online de las tareas se ha producido tan sólo en tres de los estudios revisados (Bernard et al, 2011;Chonody & Wang, 2013;Coppola et al, 2012), mientras que el empleo de evaluadores externos, grabaciones de voz y video, etc., se ha referenciado en todos excepto cuatro (Barrowclough & White, 2011;Boswell, 2012;Celdrán, Villar & Triadó, 2012). Belgrave (2011) no efectuó un registro escrito de las sesiones, a la vez que Boswell (2012), Celdrán, Villar & Triadó (2012), Chippendale (2013), y Jarrott & Smith (2011) no llevaron a cabo registro de ningún tipo durante las reuniones de seguimiento.…”

“…Belgrave (2011) no efectuó un registro escrito de las sesiones, a la vez que Boswell (2012), Celdrán, Villar & Triadó (2012), Chippendale (2013), y Jarrott & Smith (2011) no llevaron a cabo registro de ningún tipo durante las reuniones de seguimiento.…”

“Thrown Into the Deep End”: Mapping the Experiences of Young People Living in a Family Affected by a Neurological Condition

“…Finally, several studies have looked into the impact that dementia in the family can have on young people (Hall & Sikes, 2016;Hutchinson, Roberts, Kurrle & Daly 2016). For example, more and more families are taking on the care of a grandparent with dementia and this has been shown to impact on these children's everyday life and development into adulthood (Celdran, Villar & Triado, 2012). This study aimed to develop an understanding of the experiences of young adults living in families affected by a NC and identify the nature of their support networks, including their accessibility.…”

“…Finally, several studies have looked into the impact that dementia in the family can have on young people (Svanberg et al, 2011;Hall & Sikes, 2018;Hutchinson et al, 2016). For example, more and more families are taking on the care of a grandparent with dementia and this has been shown to impact on these children's everyday life and development into adulthood (Celdran et al, 2012).…”