Family caregiver´s of people with Alzheimer´s diseases and nurse´s support

Abstract

Alzheimer´s Disease is the most common type of dementia, and it is a progressive disease that begins with mild memory impairment and may lead to loss of the ability to continue the conservation and react to the environment. More than a 25million people worldwide are affected by dementia, most of them who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and about 5 million new cases occur each year. The aim of this thesis is to study the sources of stress in the family caregiver’s patients with Alzheimer´s disease and to investigate the nurse’s role in supporting family caregivers to enhance their quality of life (QoL). A literature review method was used to investigate existing literature, which clarifies the research questions. The research questions in this study were as follows: 1) What are the sources of stress to family caregivers? And 2) How can the nurse support their family caregivers?

Key findings in sources of stress to family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer´s Disease (AD) in three categories. This thesis is based on a literature review of 10 articles. The analysis of included articles is conducted with the inductive content analysis method. The transition theory by Afaf I. Meleis was used to support this study because this transition theory helps nurses to recognize appropriate strategies to support and prepare family members to improve their well-being. The finding from the study indicates that family caregivers of Alzheimer´s patients face a myriad of challenges that lead to having physical, psychological, emotional, and financial strain, which lead to a decrease in the family caregiver’s quality of life (QoL). There is a nurse's significant support to reduce the family caregivers’ strain and to enhance their QoL. The study reviewed that nurse has an important role in helping and supporting the family caregivers such as by guiding, providing emotional support, and teaching them to understand about the AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer Disease, Caregiver burden, Quality of Life, Nurses support