scholarly journals Family Caregivers of Persons With Mild Dementia Share Their Spiritual Struggles

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 507-507
Author(s):  
Jocelyn McGee ◽  
Davie Morgan ◽  
Dennis Myers

Abstract The lives of family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) may change dramatically with disease progression in their loved one. Many rely on spirituality as a resource for coping. There is evidence that persons experiencing transition/losses, as a consequence of disease/illness, can experience spiritual struggles or a crises in meaning. However, there is limited research related to spiritual struggles among family caregivers of persons with ADRD, particularly in the beginning stages of the disease process. In this study, three domains of spiritual struggle were identified after analyzing 27 caregiver interviews using the constant comparative method: 1) changes in relationship with their higher power (e.g., feelings of anger towards, feeling punished by, feeling disconnected from, and questioning); 2) changes in spiritual practices (e.g., decreased participation as a consequence of feeling unsupported, judged, or misunderstood by spiritual communities); and 3) dissonance between previously held core beliefs and current life circumstances (e.g., feelings of shame, doubt, and guilt as well as cessation of self-care activities due to the belief that they must sacrifice everything for their loved one). Notably, 74% experienced spiritual struggle in one domain; 33% in two domains, and 11% in three domains. The majority of participants had come to resolution of these spiritual struggles by the time they were interviewed. However, 40.7% were experiencing ongoing spiritual struggles, at the time of interview, suggesting the importance of identifying and addressing spiritual struggles in this population over time in order to enhance coping and adaptation.

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 676-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Sinta Kristanti ◽  
Christantie Effendy ◽  
Adi Utarini ◽  
Myrra Vernooij-Dassen ◽  
Yvonne Engels

Background: Strong family bonds are part of the Indonesian culture. Family members of patients with cancer are intensively involved in caring, also in hospitals. This is considered “normal”: a societal and religious obligation. The values underpinning this might influence families’ perception of it. Aim: To explore and model experiences of family caregivers of patients with cancer in Indonesia in performing caregiving tasks. Design: A grounded theory approach was applied. The constant comparative method was used for data analysis and a paradigm scheme was employed for developing a theoretical model. Setting/participants: The study was conducted in three hospitals in Indonesia. The participants were family caregivers of patients with cancer. Results: A total of 24 family caregivers participated. “Belief in caregiving” appeared to be the core phenomenon. This reflects the caregivers’ conviction that providing care is an important value, which becomes the will power and source of their strength. It is a combination of spiritual and religious, value and motivation to care, and is influenced by contextual factors. It influences actions: coping mechanisms, sharing tasks, and making sacrifices. Social support influences the process of the core phenomenon and the actions of the caregivers. Both positive and negative experiences were identified. Conclusion: We developed a model of family caregivers’ experiences from a country where caregiving is deeply rooted in religion and culture. The model might also be useful in other cultural contexts. Our model shows that the spiritual domain, not only for the patient but also for the family caregivers, should be structurally addressed by professional caregivers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Sinta Kristanti ◽  
Yvonne Engels ◽  
Christantie Effendy ◽  
Astuti ◽  
Adi Utarini ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Dementia, even more than cancer, demands long-term care. While in Indonesia cancer is accepted as a disease requiring caregiving, dementia is still considered "a normal condition." These differences might affect the experiences of caregivers, especially those relating to social health, the subject of our study. We aim to describe and compare the lived experiences of family caregivers of patients with cancer (PWC) with those of patients with dementia (PWD) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and to explore the role of their social health in these experiences.Method:A qualitative design was applied. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with PWC and PWD caregivers in two outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital. The constant comparative method was applied to analyze the data that were interpreted using the concept of social health to explore the experiences of the caregivers. We used Atlas.ti software.Results:Three themes were identified: problems with caregiving, dealing with problems, and beliefs in caregiving. We found more similarities than differences in the experiences of caregivers in both groups. Half of the categories were related to social health: challenges, consequences, hiding, social support, and the caregiver's approach. The organization of dementia care is characterized by simplicity and direct ties between medical specialists, PWD, and caregivers, whereas cancer care encounters coordination problems.Conclusions:Family caregivers of both groups mostly had similar experiences of the caregiving process. Gaining a better understanding of the specific experiences of caregivers, and their social health, opens new avenues for interventions to improve their quality of life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Dowling ◽  
Somikazi Deyi ◽  
Anele Gobodwana

While there have been a number of studies on the decontextualisation and secularisation of traditional ritual music in America, Taiwan and other parts of the globe, very little has been written on the processes and transformations that South Africa’s indigenous ceremonial songs go through over time. This study was prompted by the authors’ interest in, and engagement with the Xhosa initiation song Somagwaza, which has been re-imagined as a popular song, but has also purportedly found its way into other religious spaces. In this article, we attempted to investigate the extent to which the song Somagwaza is still associated with the Xhosa initiation ritual and to analyse evidence of it being decontextualised and secularised in contemporary South Africa. Our methodology included an examination of the various academic treatments of the song, an analysis of the lyrics of a popular song, bearing the same name, holding small focus group discussions, and distributing questionnaires to speakers of isiXhosa on the topic of the song. The data gathered were analysed using the constant comparative method of analysing qualitative research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Bejo Danang Saputra

Perencanaan pengembangan uji kompetensi perawat Indonesia akan dikembangkan  dengan metode OSCE.. Pelaksanaan uji OSCE membutuhkan persiapan yang matang, terutama kesiapan sumber daya manusia (SDM) dalam hal ini adalah dosen untuk melaksanakan uji OSCE. Mengetahui kesiapan SDM dalam pengembangan uji OSCE di Prodi D3 Keperawatan Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan (STIKES) Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiyyah Cilacap. Desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dengan rancangan studi kasus. Informan penelitian adalah 6 orang dosen dan Kepala Program Studi D3 keperawatan. Data diperoleh melalui, focus group discussion, wawancara mendalam dan studi dokumentasi. Data kemudian dianalisis dengan menggunakan constant comparative method. Penelitian menunjukan bahwa pengetahuan dosen tentang OSCE dan kompetensi berdasarkan pendidikan memenuhi persyaratan untuk pengembangan uji OSCE, namun masih membutuhkan pelatihan mengenai OSCE. Uji OSCE dapat diselenggarakan dengan melibatkan dosen dari prodi lain karena jumlah dosen di Prodi D3 Keperawatan  STIKES Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiyyah Cilacap belum memenuhi kebutuhan pelaksanaan uji OSCE. Hambatan penyelenggaraan OSCE adalah SDM belum terkoordinasi, belum terlatih dan keterbatasan sarana pendukun. Pengetahuan dan kompetensi dosen berdasarkan tingkat pendidikan memenuhi syarat dalam pengembangan OSCE dan OSCE dapat diselenggarakan dengan melibatkan dosen prodi lain.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abu Sikder ◽  
Francis Yang ◽  
Rhiana Schafer ◽  
Glenna A. Dowling ◽  
Lara Traeger ◽  
...  

Objectives: Due to psychological and physical strain, family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are at high risk for depression and stress related disorders. We investigated the feasibility of a mobile application (App) intervention delivering Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT), which incorporates guided imagery and mindfulness, to facilitate self-regulation and increase perspective on the mental life of self and others. Method: A 4-week pilot trial of an MIT App for family caregivers of people with dementia was conducted to assess feasibility of use, mood and depression symptom benefit, and relationship changes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the study’s conclusion to characterize participants’ perceived benefits. Results: 80% of 21 consented participants downloaded the App, utilized it at least once, and were further analyzed. Of these participants, average usage of audio recordings was 14 ± 10 (SD) days out of 28 possible, and 29 ± 28 individual sessions. Acute improvement in mood from before to after completion of exercises was uniformly observed (p < .001), and after four weeks there was a significant increase in positive affect and a reduction in negative affect. Participants with severe levels of depression (n=3) at baseline exhibited an improvement in symptoms at 4 weeks averaging 30% (p < .05). Semi-structured interviews revealed an increase in the ability to remain “centered" despite caregiving challenges, take the perspective of the loved one, and positively reframe the caregiver experience.Conclusion: App delivery of MIT is feasible for family dementia caregivers. Results showed moderate to high usage of the app for a majority of the users, and promising improvements in mood and depression. These data provide justification for larger, controlled trials.


2019 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2018-001561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan DeSanto-Madeya ◽  
Dan Willis ◽  
Julie McLaughlin ◽  
Aristotle Boslet

ObjectivesFamily caregivers suffer a high burden of emotional and psychological distress following the death of a loved one in the intensive care unit and often struggle to heal in the weeks following their loss. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the experience of healing for family caregivers six weeks following the death of a loved one in the ICU.MethodsSemi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of twenty-four family caregivers six weeks following the death of their loved ones in the ICU. Qualitative analysis techniques were used to identify common themes central to the experience of healing across all interviews.ResultsSeven themes were interpreted from the data: searching for clarity from a time of uncertainty; riding an emotional rollercoaster; seeking peace in one’s decisions; moving forward with each new day; taking comfort in the memories; valuing layers of support; and discovering life on one’s own.ConclusionBy identifying and gaining an understanding of healing following the death of a loved one in the ICU, nursing and other healthcare providers have an opportunity to promote healing and positively impact family caregiver’s bereavement.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Julian C. Hughes ◽  
Jordan Baseman ◽  
Catherine Hearne ◽  
Mabel Leng Sim Lie ◽  
Dominic Smith ◽  
...  

Abstract This paper reports on a study which examined the notions of authenticity and citizenship for people living with cognitive impairment or dementia in a care home in the North-East of England. We demonstrated that both notions were present and were encouraged by engagement with an artist, where this involved audio and visual recordings and the creation of a film. The artist's interactions were observed by a non-participant observer using ethnographic techniques, including interviews with the residents, their families and the staff of the care home. The data were analysed using grounded theory and the constant comparative method of qualitative analysis. Our findings suggest that participatory art might help to maintain and encourage authenticity and citizenship in people living with dementia in a care home. Certainly, authenticity and citizenship are notions worth pursuing in the context of dementia generally, but especially in care homes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 615-615
Author(s):  
Jyoti Savla ◽  
Karen Roberto ◽  
Mamta Sapra

Abstract Although families embrace the opportunity to care for a loved one, caregiving is stressful and takes a toll on the caregiver’s health and well-being. Earlier studies of stress and coping among family caregivers focused on psychological outcomes and emotional well-being. In the last decade, stress researchers have broadened their focus to include biomarkers and health outcomes. Data from two studies of caregivers of persons with memory loss will be used to discuss two new frontiers of caregiving research. First, a daily-diary study will be used to identify the mechanism by which stress disrupts the physiological processes and proliferates into serious psychopathology and pre-clinical and clinical health conditions. Second, a mindfulness-based psychoeducational intervention study will be utilized to identify malleable factors that can be harnessed to lower stress and improve the well-being of family caregivers. Next steps for caregiving research in the context of demographic and technological trends will be discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2199319
Author(s):  
Laura K. Soulsby ◽  
Edward H. Thompson ◽  
Kate M. Bennett

Marital status is central to one’s identity. Using interview data from US husband caregivers and British widowers, we explore how men’s relational identity as husband is maintained despite challenges as, and after, marriage ends. These data, analyzed using the constant comparative method associated with constructionist grounded theory, corroborate that the work of being married is key to identity maintenance for husbands and that the married relationship and its associated responsibilities affirm a sense of self as a man. Marriage shelters men, providing a secure place for that self-perception as a man. But a wife’s institutionalization in long-term care or widowerhood threatens the ontological security offered through marriage and prompts identity work. We extend the literature in finding that (former) husbands attempt to retain their long-term relational identity and thus remain sheltered by marriage. They reconstruct masculinity-affirming identities through activities that help them harbor their self-presentation as a (former) husband.


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