Spirituality in Caregivers of Family Members with Dementia

Abstract

Caring for a loved one with dementia is a difficult and stressful task due to the multiple memory and behavior problems that persist over many years. Researchers have implemented various intervention strategies and evaluated their impact on the negative aspects of caregiving. Yet, many of these strategies have failed to show reductions in the burden of caregiving. However, caregivers sometimes report that these same intervention strategies were extremely helpful. Perhaps those strategies are helping caregivers find spiritual meaning in their lives that empowers them to transcend their caregiving difficulties. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate spiritual meaning in caregivers of family members with dementia. A descriptive, naturalistic field study using qualitative interviewing techniques was used to collect data from 9 family caregivers of adults with dementia. In this study, spirituality was described as a connection between a higher power, others, and oneself that resulted from patterns of process, communication, and discovery.