Who Cares for Caregivers? Exploring social health among family caregivers of people living with dementia

Abstract

This thesis explores social health among caregivers of people living with dementia. Secondary analysis of qualitative interview data draws new information and perspectives from existing data. This analysis is a secondary analysis of anonymized semi-structured qualitative interviews from an individual living with dementia and their family caregiver. It focuses on the experience of the family caregivers versus the experience of the person living with dementia. Family caregivers of people living with dementia have increasing care responsibilities. The individual and social impacts of these care responsibilities prove difficult to manage for some. While there has been increasing focus on the concept of social health to maximize the quality of life of people living with dementia, this concept has not been as closely examined as a measure of the wellbeing of family caregivers. Understanding social health as a maximization of quality of life and individual experience despite external factors which limit optimal wellness, an understanding of how best to meet the individual support needs of caregivers of those living with dementia can be conceptualized. This thesis identifies general coping strategies and variables affecting social health of family caregivers while also emphasizing that individualized policies promoting family caregiver wellness and risk mitigation would be most effective in dementia management frameworks.