Providing care to a loved one diagnosed with dementia: the biopsychosocial impact on caregivers

Abstract

For the person living with a dementia, there becomes a dependency on others that is typically taken on by a close female relation within the family. These informal carers provide invaluable service to the person living with dementia and a more in-depth understanding of the experiences of informal carers is required to ensure that their needs are identified, and we better understand how best to support them. My study examined the experiences of informal caregivers providing care to a family member diagnosed with a dementia. I investigated their experiences using a narrative approach that allowed for the voices of the carers to be heard, and I identified key issues that the 10 female participants reported in relation to their caregiving roles. The study was designed to answer the research question:

What is the biopsychosocial impact on an informal caregiver providing care to a loved one diagnosed with a dementia? Previous research was mostly quantitative in nature and focused primarily on the experiences of the person living with dementia. My study utilized a qualitative research

process and thematic analysis through one-to-one in-depth interviews based on open- ended questions. This method enabled caregivers to give voice to their experiences. Three main themes were developed from the data (1) biological impact (2) sociological impact and (3) psychological-emotional challenges. The findings help us better understand the informal caregiver experience of providing care to a person living with a dementia and offer insight into the value of engaging informal caregivers of persons living with dementia in service development, implementation, and also with respect to technological research in the use of devices in support of the carer journey. The study provides a vision for the equal integration of social work services into healthcare teams as well as identifying the need for specific skills and training in social work related to the field of dementia and service provision.