scholarly journals Compassionate Love in Individuals With Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Spousal Caregivers: Associations With Caregivers’ Psychological Health

2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 981-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan K. Monin ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
Brooke C. Feeney
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Compassionate Love

Visual Communication to Improve Relationship Quality in Spousal Caregivers of Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease

2019 ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
Nola Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Visual Communication ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Couple Dynamics ◽  
Therapy Interventions

The study investigated the effectiveness of an art therapy intervention in improving relationship quality of spousal caregivers and their spouses with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Two single case studies were conducted, each composed of a caregiver and spouse with AD. Intervention consisted of three art therapy sessions based on visual communication, or the mutual creation of artwork. Relationship quality was measured throughout the study using clinical notes, pretest and posttest, and caregiver daily reports of positive interactions with their spouse. Couple dynamics were found to influence how positively each art therapy directive was viewed; however, both caregivers noted valuing art therapy interventions for providing recreation and socialization. The intervention resulted in increased positive interactions in both case studies.

Impact of Behavioural Problems on Spousal Caregivers: A Comparison between Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein E. de Vugt ◽  
Samantha R. Riedijk ◽  
Pauline Aalten ◽  
Aad Tibben ◽  
John C. van Swieten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Behavioural Problems

Are there Sex Differences in Emotional and Biological Responses in Spousal Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease?

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russel (Trey) L. Thompson ◽  
Sharon L. Lewis ◽  
Margaret R. Murphy ◽  
Jennifer M. Hale ◽  
Paula H. Blackwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Activated T Cells ◽  
Biological Responses

The purpose of this study was to compare emotional and biological responses of men and women who are spousal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Quality-of-life measurements, bioinstrumentation data, and immunophenotype assessments were obtained from female and male spousal caregivers of patients with AD. Spousal caregivers (women, n = 45 with average age 69.7; men, n = 16 with average age 71.4 years) completed questionnaires that assessed psychosocial variables. Blood was drawn and lymphocyte subsets (including natural killer [NK] cell number) were determined using flow cytometry. The degree of relaxation was determined measuring muscle tension (EMG) in the frontalis and trapezius muscles, skin conductance, skin temperature, and heart rate. Male spousal caregivers, as compared to female spousal caregivers, had significantly lower levels of stress, depression, caregiver burden (subjective), anxiety, anger-hostility, and somatic symptoms and higher levels of mental health, sense of coherence, NK cell number, and social and physical functioning. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in social support, coping resources, or T, T suppressor, or activated T cells. Women had more T helper cells and fewer NK cells than men. Men had fewer manifestations of a physiological stress response, as indicated by bioinstrumentation parameters. Unique sex-specific issues need to be considered when strategies are implemented to assist the increasing number of caregivers as our society ages.

Decreasing sense of coherence and its determinants in spousal caregivers of persons with mild Alzheimer's disease in three year follow-up: ALSOVA study

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1211-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarja Välimäki ◽  
Janne Martikainen ◽  
Kristiina Hongisto ◽  
Mikael Fraunberg ◽  
Ilona Hallikainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Efficacy Parameters ◽  
Support Programmes ◽  
Relationship Of

ABSTRACTBackground:Sense of coherence (SOC) is associated with the capability to cope with caregiving. Our aims were (1) to describe the trajectory of SOC in aged spousal caregivers of persons with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 3-year follow-up and (2) to identify baseline determinants influencing SOC change.Methods:Both AD (n = 170) (CDR-SOB, MMSE, NPI, ADCS-ADL) and caregiver- (n = 170) (BDI, SOC) related efficacy parameters were evaluated annually. Follow-up time was 3 years. The relationship of potential baseline factors with longitudinal SOC was analyzed using linear mixed models.Results:The mean drop-out-adjusted SOC score (148.5 at baseline) was decreased by 4.56 points (p = 0.002) during the follow-up. Caregivers’ depression at baseline predicted the significant decrease of SOC (every + 1 BDI point decreases 2.181 points in SOC, p = 0.0001). When caregiver's depression was not taken into account in the analysis, female gender, and higher age and AD patient's lower baseline MMSE were associated significantly (p < 0.05) with decreasing SOC score in the follow-up. Other studied covariates were not associated with SOC change.Conclusions:SOC is not as stable as expected, but decreases during long-lasting caregiving. Caregiver's depression at baseline predicts SOC decrease over time. In the future, caregiver dependent factors should be evaluated at the beginning of caregiving to target individualized support programmes to the vulnerable caregivers.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Psychoeducational and Financial Intervention to Support Caregivers of Individuals With Alzheimer’s Disease in Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Leszko
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Baseline Evaluation ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background and Objectives The goal of this study is to create data-driven guidelines and tools for caregivers and health care professionals that will enable caregivers to be prepared for future caregiving-related challenges and decrease their levels of stress. Research Design and Methods A total of 60 spousal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) living in Poland were recruited for this study. The participants were assigned to two different groups. The intervention group was provided with a five-session training focused on teaching coping strategies for managing difficult behaviors and provided with a stipend for a period of 6 months (a financial aid program recently launched by the local agency). A control group was not provided with any of the interventions but asked to complete the questionnaires. The effectiveness of each intervention was assessed at a baseline and 6 months after baseline evaluation. Results Caregivers who received financial and educational training reported significantly decreased levels of depression and caregiver burden in comparison to the control group. The majority of caregivers emphasized that caregiving created financial problems and that their work has been underestimated by the government. Discussion and Implications This project addresses several issues of central importance to the success of building research foundation for the interventions. The results have the potential of generating more efficient and personalized interventions that address the needs of the caregiver as they occur, leading to increased knowledge of AD and decreased levels of depression and caregiver burden.

Visual Communication to Improve Relationship Quality in Spousal Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-111
Author(s):  
Nola Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Visual Communication ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Spousal Caregivers ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Couple Dynamics

The study investigated the effectiveness of an art therapy intervention in improving relationship quality of spousal caregivers and their spouses with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Two single case studies were conducted, each composed of a caregiver and spouse with AD. Intervention consisted of three art therapy sessions based on visual communication, or the mutual creation of artwork. Relationship quality was measured throughout the study using clinical notes, pretest and posttest, and caregiver daily reports of positive interactions with their spouse. Couple dynamics were found to influence how positively each art therapy directive was viewed; however, both caregivers noted valuing art therapy interventions for providing recreation and socialization. The intervention resulted in increased positive interactions in both case studies.

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