Quality of Life of Spouses Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia

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Introduction The goals of this case study are to gather empirical evidence through comprehensive research to make an observable difference in the spouses caring for their loved ones with dementia. The problem spouses are facing while providing care for a loved one stricken with dementia can be overwhelming. First we assessed the quality of life in spouses caring for loved one with dementia. Second we wanted to provide concrete tools for the spouses who are the caregivers for loved ones with dementia. Thirdly we wanted to educate and instruct on improving quality of life for the spouses. Background of the Problem According to the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), dementia is one of the most prevalent disorders found among the elderly. The ADI estimates that there are 30 million people currently living with this disease worldwide, with 4.6 million new cases diagnosed each year (Pasitta et al., 2013). Proposed Research Methods utilized for the research was to review articles whose research involved spousal caregivers who are caring for their spouse suffering with dementia. The research objectives were to evaluate the quality of life in the caregiving spouse and how interventions would improve it. To provide concrete tools for the spouses who are the caregivers for the loved ones with dementia. The final objective was to educate and instruct on improving quality of life for the spouse caregivers. Lazarus and Folkman’s theory on stress and coping was chosen for the theoretical framework. PICO question was based on John Hopkins evidence based practice appraisal of research studies and literature review. Population of interest was fifty spouses who are the primary caregiver’s of a loved one with dementia. Inter... ... middle of paper ... ... dementia? The Cache county study... [corrected] [published erratum appears in J AM GERIATR SOC 2012; 60(6):1000]. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 58(5), 895-900. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02806.x Pasitta, O., Rungnapa, P., Kanaungnit, P., Vorapun, S., Harvath, T. A., & Dechavudh, N. (2013). Factors Predicting Depression among Caregivers of Persons with Dementia. Pacific Rim International Journal Of Nursing Research, 17(2), 167-180. Pisula, E., & Kossakowska, Z. (2010). Sense of Coherence and Coping with Stress Among Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 40(12), 1485-1494. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1001-3 Upton, N., & Reed, V. (2005). Caregiver coping in dementing illness-complications for short-term respite care. The International Journal of Psychiatric Nursing Research, 10 (3), 1180-1196.

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