| Learning Objective #1: describe the context of the experience of the daily lives of Mexican family caregivers of persons with Alzheimers disease. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: describe the caregiving practices of relatives with Alzheimers Disease and nursing interventions that support them in seeking and maintaining positive outlooks and outcomes. |
Methods: Mexican women (n=8) providing care within the home for persons with AD residing in Monterrey, Mexico were contacted through hospital based support groups for caretakers. Interviews were conducted for approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours concerning their experiences as primary caregivers of family members with AD. Interviews were conducted in homes of caregivers or settings of participant’s choice. To establish rapport initial interviews concerned highlights of participant’s lives followed by descriptions of their experiences as caregiver, identifying both positive and negative aspects of care-giving. Interviews were conducted in Spanish, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. To document interactions with participates, we relied upon field notes which included transcripts of interviews as well as a journal of data coding memos and observations of participants made during the interviews. The family caregivers’ life history interviews were analyzed using Spradley’s ethnographic method (1979).
Findings: Interviews were analyzed and five main themes were found: turn of life; negatives aspects of caregiving; positive aspects of caregiving; relief activities and support.
Conclusions: Findings indicated that being a main caregiver for a relative with AD means a turn in life perceived as a load, responsibility and a burden. Acceptance, love and satisfaction were reported as positive aspects of caregiving, whereas loneliness, sadness, anxiety and depression were reported as negative ones. Caregivers reported spirituality and distraction as processes used to relief their distress. Additionally, caregivers required professional nursing services, psychological support, and respite. This research shows that caregivers for relatives with AD are vulnerable. They require assistance for learning to cope with their everyday care giving experience. They may benefit from nursing interventions that support them in seeking and maintaining positive outlooks and outcomes.
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