Characteristics of the skills of caregivers of people with dementia: observational study

Facilitating Family Carer Dementia Education: We All Need to Learn

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The importance of family carer dementia education is highlighted in research, practice guidance, and policy. Less attention is paid to how facilitators learn and prepare for their role. This research aimed to explore and describe facilitator learning experiences within a bespoke Scottish Carers' Academy designed around a theory-guided approach called Care Empathia. A healthcare and university partnership ensured integration with services and the fusion of dementia higher education know-how with clinical practice expertise.

METHODS

Nineteen facilitator questionnaires were completed from two Carer Academy hubs; thirteen participated in online focus groups.

RESULTS

The questionnaire findings highlighted the learning gained from being a facilitator, observing expert facilitators in action, and listening to the testimonies of family carers. The framework analysis of the focus group data identified six themes, including safe learning approaches, the art of facilitation, emotional work, team learning, and leadership. These findings highlight the importance of facilitator preparation and the advantages of co-delivery models that combine clinical and practice education expertise.

CONCLUSION

Facilitators need to understand how to walk the talk of theory-guided educational models, be open to reciprocity in learning, and be prepared for the emotional work of delivering trauma-informed practical dementia care education to family carers.

Psychological distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Uganda

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations, such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support provided to patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges. This study examined psychological distress, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among family caregivers of patients with ADRD in Wakiso District, Uganda.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 90 caregivers from three sub-counties in Wakiso, selected through purposive sampling to capture diverse experiences. Participants included caregivers aged 18 years and older who were knowledgeable and had cared for a person with ADRD for not less than six months, with those providing more than 70% of physical care being prioritised. Data were collected using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Caregiver Dementia Quality of Life Measurement Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, with an 80% response rate achieved through local collaboration. The statistical analyses focused on psychological distress, QoL, and depression.

RESULTS

The study included 82.2% females and 17.8% males, with a median age of 52 years for females and 35 years, respectively. Females were more likely to be single or widowed, whereas males were more likely to be married. The study revealed a high prevalence of psychological distress and depression among caregivers (64.4%) regardless of sex. The analysis indicated that having children was a significant predictor of better QoL (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.79-5.66, p = 0.034) and a lower risk of depression (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.86, p = 0.036). No other sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with health outcomes across the models.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed a heavy burden of psychological distress and depression among Ugandan caregivers of patients with ADRD, highlighting the need for structured support systems, including mental health services and gender-responsive interventions in low-resource settings.

Exploring the implementation of multidisciplinary collaboration at nursing homes in Jakarta, Indonesia: A descriptive phenomenological study

Background

A well-functioning multidisciplinary team optimizes resource utilization and reduces care redundancy, fragmentation, and wastage. Collaborative efforts yield a clearer understanding of older people's needs and desires, significantly reducing hospitalization days. Despite limited studies, particularly in Indonesia, investigating professionals' experiences in implementing multidisciplinary collaboration in government nursing homes, nursing care quality remains a concern.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the implementation of multidisciplinary collaboration in nursing homes from the perspectives of various disciplines.

Methods

A descriptive phenomenological study was used with semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with multidisciplinary care providers, including nurses, doctors, social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational and recreational activity instructors, and clergy in nursing homes owned by the Jakarta provincial government. A total of 64 participants were involved, and data were collected from September 2022 to July 2023. Data were analyzed using content-based analysis.

Results

Three main themes emerged: 1) context of multiple collaborations, 2) barriers to implementing multiple collaborations, and 3) impacts of non-optimal multidisciplinary collaborations. Nursing home management's multidisciplinary teams predominantly implement professional-centered care with limited support systems. While providers generally perceive collaboration positively, shared responsibility and joint work among professionals are lacking.

Conclusion

This study highlights the need to improve multidisciplinary collaboration in nursing homes to enhance care quality for older individuals. While providers view collaboration positively, barriers like a lack of shared responsibility and joint work persist. Enhancing teamwork cohesion through improved communication and integrated case reporting systems is crucial. Addressing human resource and systemic barriers is also vital. By overcoming these challenges, nursing homes can optimize resource use, reduce care redundancy, and better meet the diverse needs of older residents.

Psychological Distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Uganda

Background

Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support for patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges. This study examined psychological distress, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among family caregivers of patients with ADRD in Wakiso District, Uganda.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 90 caregivers from three sub-counties in Wakiso selected through purposive sampling to capture diverse experiences. Data were collected using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Caregiver Dementia Quality of Life Measurement Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, with an 80% response rate achieved through local collaboration. Statistical analyses focused on psychological distress, QoL, and depression.

Results

The study included 82.2% females and 17.8% males, with a median age of 52 years for females and 35 years, respectively. Females were more likely to be single or widowed, whereas males were more likely to be married. The study revealed a high prevalence of psychological distress and depression among caregivers (64.4%) regardless of sex. The analysis indicated that having children was a significant predictor of better QoL (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.79-5.66, p=0.034) and lower risk of depression (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.86, p=0.036). No other sociodemographic factor was significantly associated with health outcomes across the models.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed a heavy burden of psychological distress and depression among Ugandan caregivers of patients with ADRD, highlighting the need for structured support systems, including mental health services and gender-responsive interventions, in low-resource settings.

Smartphone app-based intervention for reducing stress, depression, and anxiety in caregivers of people with dementia in Vietnam: Study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Objectives

This study aims to: (1) identify the information required by family caregivers of people with dementia to be targeted within our dementia family caregiver intervention and (2) test the feasibility of the intervention and methodology to underpin a fully powered randomized controlled trial.

Methods

The study setting will be the Department of Geriatrics at Gia Dinh People's Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Inclusion criteria will be the family caregivers of people with dementia living in the community, who attend the Department and use smartphones. In phase 1, we will identify the intervention content with family caregivers of people with dementia through 20 in-depth interviews to determine what information and skills they need. In phase 2, a pilot randomized control trial design will be conducted, with 60 family caregivers of people with dementia being assigned to the intervention or control group by the block randomization method with a ratio of 1:1. The intervention will include weekly, online, psycho-educational, group sessions hosted on the Zalo app. The participants will complete questionnaires at baseline, immediately postintervention, and 3-month postintervention. The feasibility of the intervention and methodology will be assessed, including the rates of recruitment, retention, completion of assessments, and acceptability of the intervention.

Results

The required information and skills in phase 1 may include dealing with worrying behavior changes in people with dementia, emotional support, and seeking support sources. The rates of recruitment, retention, completion of assessments, and acceptability of the intervention will be obtained in phase 2. The scores of symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety in the intervention group may be lower than those in the control group at postintervention and 3-month postintervention.

Conclusion

The study will provide a foundation for a fully powered clinical trial for the smartphone app-based intervention to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety among family caregivers of people with dementia in Vietnam.

Up-Close and Personal: Conceptualizing the Self as Dementia Caregiver: a Study in Soweto, South Africa

The aim of this study was to understand how dementia caregivers in the township of Soweto, South Africa interpret their role in the context of caregiving through the personal constructs identified using the Self- Characterization technique. Thirty family caregivers were recruited via purposive sampling methods and completed a Self-Characterization Sketch during semi-structured interviews. Content analysis of construct pairs was thematically coded using the Classification System for Personal Constructs (CSPC) - a reliable method to analyse personal constructs that are generated by constructivist assessments. Findings revealed that caregivers' interpretations of themselves was characterized by moral, emotional and cognitive attributes. Specifically, a sense of mastery, self-efficacy, strength, selflessness and unconditional positive regard characterized the most meaningful constructs of care within caregiver narratives in response to their loved ones with dementia. These adaptive outcomes, despite the challenging, pervasive, complex nature of dementia and its manifestations, suggest psychological and emotional resilience, higher levels of adjustment and caregiver well-being. However, it is important to consider possible consequences such as physical fatigue and burnout despite adaptive outcomes. Therefore, it is recommended that approaches to psychoeducational initiatives, emotional and psychological interventions and awareness campaigns include teaching caregivers how to self-care encourage the importance of consistent exercise, rest, sleep, nutrition as well as reaching out for social support. Lastly, empowering caregivers to use their personal resources would prove valuable in support groups, and individual to facilitate self-awareness, sustained coping and mental health.