The positive aspects of caregiving in dementia: A critical review of the qualitative literature

Joanna Lloyd, Tom Patterson, Jane Muers

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    176 Citations (Scopus)
    1025 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Positive aspects of caregiving in dementia have been identified as important in understanding the experiences of carers, yet the research base lacks clear definitions of key concepts. Qualitative research explores carers’ experiences of positive aspects of caregiving in rich detail which lends itself to supporting theory development. The aim of the present review was to critically evaluate the empirical findings of qualitative studies that have explored positive aspects of caregiving in dementia. A systematic search of the literature revealed 14 studies that met this aim. Carers described multiple positive dimensions of caregiving and identified several factors that were important in supporting their positive caregiving experience. The present review evidences a solid base of understanding of the positive aspects of caregiving in dementia from which concepts and theories can be further developed. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1534-1561
    Number of pages28
    JournalDementia
    Volume15
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 29 Dec 2014

    Keywords

    • Carers
    • Caregiving
    • Dementia
    • Positive aspects
    • Qualitative

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