The journey with dementia from the perspective of bereaved family caregivers: a qualitative descriptive study

Transnational Caregiving and Grief: An Autobiographical Case Study of Loss and Love During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article examines grief while providing transnational caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are an estimated 275 million migrants living in their destination homeland which is 3.5% of the global population. The transnational family strives to maintain solidarity, intergenerational ties, and cultural values while sustaining family structure across international borders. Transnational caregiving is the exchange of support and care across distance and international borders. The devastating assault of COVID-19 on older adults impacted caregiving significantly, especially transnational caregiving. A qualitative case study method was selected to examine a participant's understanding and experience of transnational caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the interviews and writing of the narrative summary, five themes emerged related to transnational caregiving and COVID-related losses -exposure to sudden and unexpected death, isolation, guilt, loss and change of traditions, and lack of closure.

The matter of grief, loss and bereavement in families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting: A systematic review

The grief, loss and bereavement needs of the families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting is not very well understood. This systematic review examines grief, loss, and bereavement experience of, and interventions relating to, family caregivers of those entering, living and dying in residential aged care. Out of 2023 papers that were identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria which included (n=28) qualitative and (n=7) quantitative intervention studies. The qualitative findings indicated quality of care provided to the resident at the end of their life, and after death care influenced family caregivers' grief reactions. The intervention studies revealed that educational interventions have the potential to lead to some benefits in the context of grief loss and bereavement outcomes. Recognizing the emotional experiences and support needs of families and carers may enhance the understanding of the ageing, caring, dying, grieving pathway for older people and their families.

"It's You": Caregiver and Clinician Perspectives on Lucidity in People Living With Dementia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Episodes of lucidity (ELs), or a transient return of abilities believed to be lost in people living with dementia, are a growing area of interest. These events hold important implications for care, caregiving, and our understanding of underlying etiologies. Research on ELs is largely limited to retrospective reports. The perspectives of professional and family caregivers on ELs and research approaches can inform efforts to define and study lucidity. The present study examined family caregiver and hospice clinician experiences with and perspectives on ELs in people living with dementia and observational approaches to studying these events.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This exploratory, descriptive qualitative study employed semistructured interviews (N = 20 caregivers, N = 6 clinicians). Data were analyzed using Rapid Identification of Themes and subsequent duplicate review of interview data to enhance trustworthiness.

RESULTS

Most participants readily recalled events they perceived as ELs, describing a transient return of abilities they felt was significant and/or meaningful. Defining features, interpretations, and the perceived impact of ELs varied, although ELs were commonly conceptualized as a manifestation of self. Caregivers described extensive efforts to detect patterns and supportive social conditions for ELs. Participants supported use of audiovisual observation to study ELs and provided recommendations for privacy, workflow, and caregiver engagement.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Interpretations of ELs are heterogeneous, and recognition of these events may necessitate close familiarity with the person living with dementia. Participants endorse observational approaches and integration of caregivers in this research.

'Redeemed' or 'isolated': A systematic review of the experiences of older adults receiving a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Understanding the experiences of older adults living with MCI can benefit healthcare professionals in diagnosing and implementing early interventions to delay cognitive decline.

OBJECTIVE

To assess and synthesize qualitative research exploring the experience of older adults diagnosed with MCI.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases were searched. Studies involving the experience of being diagnosed with MCI in older adults were included. Thomas and Harden's methodology of synthesizing qualitative studies was used.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included. Three themes were identified: perceived reality of the MCI diagnosis; emotional and psychological responses to the MCI label; coping engaged in parallel processing. Older adults had confusing perspectives on the MCI diagnosis, leading to complicated and diverse emotional reactions and coping measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between perspectives, emotional reactions, and coping methods might be the key for healthcare professionals to break through the early diagnosis and intervention of MCI.

Positive Mental Health and Mental Health Literacy of Informal Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Positive mental health and mental health literacy are two main concepts to ensure an individual and social state of mental health and well-being. A scoping review of the scientific literature published in the field of health sciences was conducted to identify the relationship between mental health literacy and the positive mental health of family caregivers. A research expression was used to search for articles in health databases, respecting the main topics of the Participants/Concept/Context (PCC) framework. A total of eight articles were included from the 2830 initially identified using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) process. It was noticeable that none of the studies related positive mental health and mental health literacy of caregivers. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify predictors of mental health and self-efficacy, such as burden and a lack of information about and support in the process of care. Caregivers' quality of life, self-esteem and confidence are also important positive mental health predictors that are closely related to health literacy. The knowledge of these factors can contribute to the reduction in negative determinants of mental health of caregivers and the resolution of strategies to meet caregivers' needs.

A qualitative descriptive study of providers’ perspectives on human papillomavirus vaccine administration among Latino/a adolescents in South Texas clinics: barriers and facilitators

Background

South Texas Latinas experience higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality compared to Latinas nationwide. Despite the availability of effective human papillomavirus vaccines, South Texas Latino/a adolescents sub-optimally complete the series. Research shows provider recommendation strongly predicts vaccine uptake, but minority adolescents are less likely to report that their provider recommended the vaccine and series completion. There is also scant information on the HPV vaccine administration process in clinic practices providing vaccination services to Latino adolescents with limited access to healthcare resources. The purpose of the study was to describe providers’ experience with administering the HPV vaccine to Latino/a patients in their practices.

Methods

The study used qualitative description to describe the experience of 15 South Texas healthcare providers (doctors and nurses) with the process of HPV vaccine administration in their practices. We conducted open ended, audio-recorded interviews, which were subsequently transcribed verbatim and uploaded into Atlas.(ti) 7.0 for analysis. The interviews yielded detailed descriptions of barriers and facilitators that could potentially impact HPV vaccine uptake.

Results

Providers identified parental exposure to provider recommendation as enhancing HPV acceptance and existing policies and implementation of evidence-based practices as facilitators of HPV vaccine uptake. Barriers ranged from parental fears of adolescent sexual activity and potential vaccine side effects to lack of transportation and the cost of the vaccine.

Conclusion

These findings reflect barriers and facilitators to administering the HPV vaccine previously identified and also highlight issues unique to the situation among Latinos in South Texas. Implications include the need to design and implement efforts to improve provider-parent communication and enhance parental and adolescent patients’ understanding of and confidence in the HPV vaccine. Furthermore, policy changes are needed to rectify organizational/structural challenges to HPV vaccine administration.

Interventions to support family caregivers of people with advanced dementia at the end of life in nursing homes: A mixed-methods systematic review

BACKGROUND

Most people with dementia transition into nursing homes as their disease progresses. Their family caregivers often continue to be involved in their relative's care and experience high level of strain at the end of life.

AIM

To gather and synthesize information on interventions to support family caregivers of people with advanced dementia at the end of life in nursing homes and provide a set of recommendations for practice.

DESIGN

Mixed-Methods Systematic Review (PROSPERO no. CRD42020217854) with convergent integrated approach.

DATA SOURCES

Five electronic databases were searched from inception in November 2020. Published qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies of interventions to support family caregivers of people with advanced dementia at the end of life in nursing home were included. No language or temporal limits were applied.

RESULTS

In all, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data synthesis resulted in three integrated findings: (i) healthcare professionals should engage family caregivers in ongoing dialog and provide adequate time and space for sensitive discussions; (ii) end-of-life discussions should be face-to-face and supported by written information whose timing of supply may vary according to family caregivers' preferences and the organizational policies and cultural context; and (iii) family caregivers should be provided structured psychoeducational programs tailored to their specific needs and/or regular family meetings about dementia care at the end of life.

CONCLUSION

The findings provide useful information on which interventions may benefit family caregivers of people with advanced dementia at the end of life and where, when, and how they should be provided.

Long-term care placement: The transitional support needs and preferences of spousal dementia caregivers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Many spousal caregivers experience stress, depression, loneliness, guilt and grief when placing a partner with dementia into long-term care. However, there is little research about their transitional support experiences, needs and preferences. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of these issues from spousal caregiver and long-term care facility staff perspectives, to inform subsequent support and intervention development.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Semi-structured interviews and small group discussions were held separately with spousal caregivers (n = 9) and care facility staff (n = 11). Criterion and variation sampling aimed to ensure a range of experiences and perspectives. The 'Framework' approach was utilised for data analysis. Interpretation was with respect to underpinning models of stress-grief process in dementia caregiving.

FINDINGS

A range of informational, psychoeducational and psychosocial supports were identified to help spousal caregivers cope better with the stressors and losses experienced throughout the transition from home to long-term care. Improved education about disease progression, information relating to long-term care provision, peer support and dementia-specific grief counselling were deemed important. Opportunities for better support within care facilities were also identified. Support should be tailored to individual needs and preferences.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The findings suggest a supportive care framework be developed, encompassing the trajectory from assessment for and admission into long-term care to end-of-life and post-bereavement support. Spousal caregivers should have their support needs assessed by trained health or social care professionals and be offered a range of support options as appropriate.

Until death do us part Adult children's perspective of their parents' transition from living at home to moving into a nursing home and the time after death

BACKGROUND

Adult children are often key carers of frail older parents providing care for a long period of time in different care contexts. However, research concerning adult children's caregiving experiences, from providing home-based care to facing the death of a parent in a nursing home is sparse. Thus, the aim was to explore the transition from living at home to moving into and living in a nursing home and the time after death from the perspective of next of kin to an older person.

METHODS

A qualitative design using individual interviews with 15 adult children of older persons. The text was analysed using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

One main category was identified, until death do us part. With three generic categories, living at home, living at a nursing home and time after death, and eight sub-categories. The results describe the transition when an older person lives at home and moves into and lives in a nursing home and the time after death from the perspective of next of kin.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights many examples of tasks that adult children provide over a long period of time and in different care contexts since they felt that professional care was unable to provide safe and secure care for their older parents. It also highlights the importance for staff to recognize the support that next of kin provide. Furthermore, the study reveal that staff do not offer the relief that they are obligated to provide, to enable next of kin coping with this strenuous transition in life. First after the parent died, there was time for relief since the worrying and the doing of practical things for the parent had stopped.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials NCT02708498 ; date of registration: 26 February 2016.

The experiences, priorities, and perceptions of informal caregivers of people with dementia in nursing homes: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Person-centered care has been shown to increase desired outcomes for people with dementia, yet informal caregivers' dissatisfaction with care is often reported. For those living in a nursing home, informal caregivers are uniquely situated to provide key insights into the individual's care. However, little is known of the informal caregivers' perspective, which hinders efforts to improve their satisfaction with person-centered nursing home care. Thus, we examined the comprehensive experiences, priorities, and perceptions of informal caregivers of nursing home residents with dementia.

METHODS

In collaboration with stakeholders, a scoping review of Medline (Ovid), EMBASE.com, CINAHL (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library (Wiley), and PsycINFO (Ovid) databases from January 2000 to July 2020 was conducted. Data were extracted reflecting the experiences, priorities, and preferences of caregivers of people with dementia residing in nursing homes.

RESULTS

We identified 114 articles that revealed nine themes: (1) communication, (2) transition to nursing home, (3) quality of care, (4) quality of life, (5) informal caregiver role, (6) knowledge of dementia, (7) end-of-life preferences, (8) medication use to manage neuropsychiatric behaviors, and (9) finances.

CONCLUSION

Informal caregivers described aspects of care that led to both positive and negative experiences with and perceptions of nursing home care. The shortcomings in communication were discussed most frequently, indicating a high priority area. While researchers define the identified themes individually, informal caregivers perceive them to be interwoven as they relate to person-centered care delivery. Although we did not assess the quality of included articles, by identifying themes relevant to caregivers' perspectives of nursing home care, our findings may help to inform efforts to optimize caregivers' satisfaction with nursing home care for residents with dementia.

The effectiveness of a digital game to improve public perception of dementia: A pretest-posttest evaluation

The global impact of dementia is a key healthcare priority, and although it is possible to live well with dementia, public perception is often negative. Serious digital games are becoming a credible delivery method to educate/train individuals in the business and health sectors and to challenge perceptions. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital game prototype on individual attitudes towards dementia. A digital game to improve public knowledge and understanding about dementia (www.dementiagame.com) was co-designed with people living with dementia and student nurses. The Game was evaluated using a pretest-posttest design. Participants for the evaluation were recruited via social media in one UK university and completed the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ) before and after playing the game. Overall, 457 individuals completed both pre and post test questionnaires. The total ADQ score demonstrated a significant improvement in positive attitudes (p < 0.001), and both subscales of Hope and Recognition of Personhood also saw significant improvements (p < 0.001). The use of a serious digital game has demonstrated a significant effect on the respondents’ perceptions of dementia. Overall, there was a more positive view of the abilities of people with dementia and what their capabilities were. They were also more likely to be recognised as unique individuals with the same values as any other person. The benefit of using digital gaming to improve perceptions of dementia has been demonstrated, nonetheless further research is required to reach a more diverse population and test as a Randomised Control Trial to provide definitive evidence for use in policy and practice.

Pre-Loss Grief in Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia with Lewy Bodies

BACKGROUND

Pre-loss grief increases as dementia advances. Caregivers who experience pre-loss grief face risks to their own physical and psychological health.

OBJECTIVE

The study examined factors associated with pre-loss grief in caregivers of older adults with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) to determine whether overall caregiver experiences differ based on the stages of DLB in care recipients. The study also compared pre-loss grief in caregivers of DLB patients with that in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias.

METHOD

Using a cross-sectional design, 714 caregivers of older adults with dementia (488 DLB, 81 AD, 145 other dementias) completed an online survey on pre-loss grief. Multivariate linear regression identified risk factors associated with pre-loss grief and analysis of variance examined whether pre-loss grief in caregivers differed significantly based on type of dementia or stage of DLB.

RESULTS

Being the caregiver of a spouse, lower level of caregiver well-being, lower psychological well-being of the caregiver, and higher level of burden were associated (p < 0.005) with increased pre-loss grief in caregivers of older adults with DLB. There was no significant difference in caregiver burden, well-being, or depression according to the various stages of DLB (mild, moderate, severe, deceased) in the care recipients. There was no significant difference in pre-loss grief in caregivers of DLB care recipients compared to caregivers of patients with other dementias.

CONCLUSION

Assessment of DLB caregivers and appropriate interventions should be conducted to reduce their burden and emotional distress to decrease the incidence of pre-loss grief.

The experience of bereavement on family caregivers of people with dementia in China

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Despite many studies on 'life after care' for family caregivers with dementia in Western societies, little is known about the bereavement experiences of family caregivers in China. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China. It also hopes to inform end-of-life care within communities, providing a theoretical basis for improving the quality of life of bereaved family caregivers.

METHODS

Interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was adapted for this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit former family caregivers of people with dementia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 bereaved family caregivers were collected. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

FINDINGS

Five themes were identified: recalling the past life, lack of support, uncertainty of the future, social withdrawal and acceptance and release.

CONCLUSION

The experiences of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China are socially and culturally complex. This article recommends that bereavement should be supported throughout the palliative process of community services and healthcare services. Providing all-round support and education on death and dying can help the family caregivers to pass through grief and help them to maintain their normal life.

Qualitative exploration of emotional and social changes from diagnosis to bereavement for spousal caregivers of persons with dementia

OBJECTIVES

To understand how bereaved spousal caregivers of persons with dementia perceive and respond to changes over the course of their spouse's disease, from diagnosis into bereavement.

DESIGN

Qualitative interview study with convenience sampling and thematic analysis approach.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included eight women and two men (n=10) who had been spousal caregivers for a person with dementia prior to his/her death. Participants were older adults who self-reported good health and were bereaved longer than a year.

SETTING

Data collected in a small Canadian prairie city between fall 2014 and winter 2015.

FINDINGS

Two overarching themes were developed as important components of participants' caregiving journey: emotional reactions to change and variation in social connectedness throughout the caregiving and bereavement journey. Four key sub-themes developed through the analysis of emotional reactions to events: memorable grief overshadows persistent grief, a progressive feeling of hopelessness and overwhelmed, relief is common but hidden and gratitude is a milestone in a constructive bereavement. Three key variations of social connectedness throughout the caregiving and bereavement journey were developed: the importance of social inclusion throughout a caregiving and bereavement journey, the repeated loss of companionship and withdrawing from social interactions is contingent on needs.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that emotional changes throughout caregiving and bereavement are not linear. The need for support from family, friends and new social supports is influential in enabling the caregiver to move forward during caregiving and bereavement.

Perspectives of people with dementia and carers on advance care planning and end-of-life care: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

BACKGROUND:

Advance care planning aims to ensure that care received during serious and chronic illness is consistent with the person’s values, preferences and goals. However, less than 40% of people with dementia undertake advance care planning internationally.

AIM:

This study aims to describe the perspectives of people with dementia and their carers on advance care planning and end-of-life care.

DESIGN:

Systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.

DATA SOURCES:

Electronic databases were searched from inception to July 2018.

RESULTS:

From 84 studies involving 389 people with dementia and 1864 carers, five themes were identified: avoiding dehumanising treatment and care (remaining connected, delaying institutionalisation, rejecting the burdens of futile treatment); confronting emotionally difficult conversations (signifying death, unpreparedness to face impending cognitive decline, locked into a pathway); navigating existential tensions (accepting inevitable incapacity and death, fear of being responsible for cause of death, alleviating decisional responsibility); defining personal autonomy (struggling with unknown preferences, depending on carer advocacy, justifying treatments for health deteriorations); and lacking confidence in healthcare settings (distrusting clinicians’ mastery and knowledge, making uninformed choices, deprived of hospice access and support at end of life).

CONCLUSION:

People with dementia and their carers felt uncertain in making treatment decisions in the context of advance care planning and end-of-life care. Advance care planning strategies that attend to people’s uncertainty in decision-making may help to empower people with dementia and carers and strengthen person-centred care in this context.

What Does Death Preparedness Mean for Family Caregivers of Persons With Dementia?

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to clarify the concept of death preparedness for family caregivers in dementia. Conceptualization was required to support the assessment, promotion, and operationalization (ie, measurement) of death preparedness through palliative care interventions such as advance care planning.

Methods:

Rodgers evolutionary method of concept analysis was selected to guide this study because of the dynamic nature of death preparedness influenced by context, setting, and time. A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Authors performed constant comparative analysis to identify and interpret surrogate/related concepts, attributes, antecedents, and consequences of death preparedness.

Results:

Most importantly attributes included (1) knowing and recognizing the symptoms of decline in dementia and what dying looks like; (2) understanding emotions and grief responses; (3) accessing and appraising supports needed to manage and care for dying; (4) organizing affairs and completing tasks in advance; (5) accepting that losses are inevitable and imminent; (6) reflecting on caregiving and finding meaning, “a silver-lining”; and (7) closing, reconciling, and renewing relationship bonds and completing the family member’s life.

Discussion:

This study contributed a full definition of death preparedness in dementia. Findings aligned with/expanded upon Hebert et al Theoretical Framework of Preparedness for End-of-Life. The use of problem- and emotion-based coping strategies by caregivers with support from health-care providers to promote feelings of death preparedness (including self-efficacy and control) and minimize uncertainty was the implication of this study. Development of a holistic preparedness instrument is underway.

Experiences Surrounding an Early-Stage Cognitive Diagnosis in Rural-Dwelling Older Adults

Misdiagnosis, lack of specialists, and patient dismissal of symptoms can contribute to delayed detection of early cognitive impairment. Understanding patient perspectives during and around time of cognitive diagnosis is crucial, as reactions to diagnosis can impact disease management and overall health. The current study conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of rural-dwelling older adults (n = 9) and their caregivers (n = 10) surrounding diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's disease at a specialty research center (SRC). Content analysis was performed. Overall, researchers found that older adult participants experienced various cognitive symptoms pre-diagnosis and dyads experienced diagnostic uncertainty prior to the SRC visit. All individuals displayed a range of reactive and information-seeking actions. Nurses play significant roles in the diagnostic and post-diagnostic periods for patients with early-stage cognitive impairment, and clinical diagnostic expertise, appropriate and timely direction of resources, and identification and targeting of early interventions to promote cognitive health are particularly important to this underserved population. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(4):181-189.].

The experiences and preparedness of family carers for best interest decision-making of a relative living with advanced dementia: A qualitative study

AIM

To explore the experience and the preparedness of family carers in their caregiving role as best interest decision-makers of a relative living with advanced dementia.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of dementia is a global issue. The role of being a carer of a relative living with dementia does not necessarily lessen once they are admitted to a nursing home. Best interest decision-making including end-of-life care decisions need to be made and reaching these choices can be challenging. The preparedness of family carers in this role needs greater understanding.

DESIGN

Descriptive qualitative study.

METHODS

During 2015 twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted of family carers of nursing home residents living with advanced dementia, then analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified: (1) Caring for someone living with dementia. The impact on the carer's holistic well-being and their experience of being a best interest decision-maker; (2) Accessing support. The influential nature of formal and informal networks; (3) Perceived knowledge and understanding of the dementia trajectory of carers and nursing staff.

CONCLUSION

The experiences and preparedness of informal carers is a reflection of their personal response, but the distress experienced highlights the significant need of adequate support availability and of enhancing nursing staffs' dementia expertise to maximize their role in facilitating best interest decision-making. This has significant implications for nursing practice and for service user and nursing staff education. Considering the global impact of dementia, our findings have international relevance to similar nursing homes across the world.

Assessing Palliative Care Content in Dementia Care Guidelines: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Families of persons with dementia continue to report unmet needs during end of life (EOL). Strategies to improve care and quality of life for persons with dementia include development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and an integrative palliative approach.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess palliative care content in dementia CPGs to identify the presence or limitations of recommendations and discussion pertaining to common issues or domains affected by illness as described by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association "Square of Care."

DESIGN

A systematic review of databases and gray literature was conducted for recent CPGs. Guidelines meeting inclusion criteria were evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument. Quality CPGs were analyzed through organizational template analysis using illness domains described by the "Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Model." The study protocol is registered at PROSPERO (CRD 42015025369).

RESULTS

Eleven CPGs were selected and analyzed from 3779 citations. Nine guidelines demonstrated the maximum level of content regarding physical, psychological, and social care. Conversely, spiritual care was either absent (three) or minimal (three) in CPGs. Six CPGs did not address loss or grief, and seven CPGs did not address or had minimal content regarding EOL care.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of content surrounding grief represents a gap for this population at high risk for complicated grief and chronic sorrow. Results of this review require attention by CPG developers and researchers to develop evidence-based recommendations surrounding spiritual care, EOL, and grief.

Older Adult Spouses with Multiple Chronic Conditions: Challenges, Rewards, and Coping Strategies

There is a paucity of research exploring how spouses to older adults with multiple chronic conditions make meaning of their caregiving experience. For this study, we asked: What is the experience of spousal caregivers to persons with multiple chronic conditions? We applied Thorne's interpretive description approach, interviewing 18 spouses who provided a rich description of their caregiving experience; interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Themes were categorized according to challenges encountered, rewards gleaned, and sustaining strategies employed by participants in caregiving to their spouse with multiple chronic conditions. Unique findings relate to the challenges inherent in decision-making within the context of multiple chronic conditions. This article begins to address the gap in the literature regarding the caregiving experience within the context of multiple chronic conditions.

Anxiety, depression and quality of life in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients during home care and after the patient's death

We examined psychological parameters in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients before and after the death of the patients. Caregivers' data about depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), quality-of-life (Short Form-8 Health Survey), and social support (Oslo Social Support Scale) were collected at the beginning of home care (t1) and 2 months after the patient had died (t2). Regression models were employed to examine factors related to depression and anxiety in the bereaved caregivers. We interviewed 72 relatives, who were the primary caregiver of a patient. One-third (31.9%) of caregivers had high anxiety levels and 29.2% had high depression levels (t1, cut-off = 10). At t2, anxiety and depression had decreased significantly. There were no changes in quality-of-life over time. At both points of assessments, quality-of-life was lower than in the general population. Relevant factors for higher anxiety and depression in the bereaved caregivers were high levels of distress at t1, insufficient social support and low physical function. Bereaved caregivers were particularly depressed when they had been the spouse of the patient. Healthcare professionals should consider social isolation of caring relatives both during homecare and afterwards. Thus, it seems to be important to routinely offer support to spouses.

Characteristics of Qualitative Descriptive Studies: A Systematic Review

Qualitative description (QD) is a term that is widely used to describe qualitative studies of health care and nursing-related phenomena. However, limited discussions regarding QD are found in the existing literature. In this systematic review, we identified characteristics of methods and findings reported in research articles published in 2014 whose authors identified the work as QD. After searching and screening, data were extracted from the sample of 55 QD articles and examined to characterize research objectives, design justification, theoretical/philosophical frameworks, sampling and sample size, data collection and sources, data analysis, and presentation of findings. In this review, three primary findings were identified. First, although there were some inconsistencies, most articles included characteristics consistent with the limited available QD definitions and descriptions. Next, flexibility or variability of methods was common and effective for obtaining rich data and achieving understanding of a phenomenon. Finally, justification for how a QD approach was chosen and why it would be an appropriate fit for a particular study was limited in the sample and, therefore, in need of increased attention. Based on these findings, recommendations include encouragement to researchers to provide as many details as possible regarding the methods of their QD studies so that readers can determine whether the methods used were reasonable and effective in producing useful findings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The bereavement experience of spousal caregivers to persons with dementia: Reclaiming self

Spouses of persons living with dementia both anticipate future loss and grieve for multiple losses occurring with caregiving and this ultimately influences their bereavement experience. Little research has been conducted regarding the bereavement experience in the caregiving journey with dementia and what does exist is mostly quantitative in nature. The purpose of this study is to describe the bereavement experience of spousal caregivers ( n = 10) utilizing Thorne’s interpretive description. Thematic analysis revealed the features and facilitators of the bereavement process for spousal caregivers to persons with dementia. The unique contribution of this study to the dementia literature is the finding that the overall process of reclaiming self is significant to the bereavement journey. Future work should investigate identity as understood by spousal caregivers to persons with dementia, and further explore the processes, facilitators, and barriers to healthy bereavement in this population.