Experiences and challenges of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease

Sammanfattning: Background: A family caregiver is a person living close to an individual in need of care. Being a relative of an Alzheimer’s patient involves switching roles from being a family member to a care giver.  Studies have shown that it’s usually spouses and children especially daughters who offer care to their love ones in their homes. Family caregivers are faced with physical, psychological, emotional, social, and financial strain. Aim: The aim of this literature study was to describe the experiences and challenges of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Method: A literature study was conducted, and 11 original articles were selected from the databases PubMed and CINAHL; the selected articles went through a quality analysis with the help of a protocol for quality assessment of qualitative articles. Results: Caregivers viewed their needs as irrelevant and secondary to the needs of the person with dementia. The challenges that come with the role put a lot of strain on the caregiver. Caregivers weren’t prepared to carry out their roles due to lack of support from formal care. A lack of awareness and knowledge about dementia in the community was the leading cause of social stigmatization. Conclusion: With help from formal care, the caregiver doesn’t have to feel like their needs are secondary to their relative’s needs. Nurses, family caregivers and people with Alzheimer's disease are required to work hand in hand in order to achieve their common goal of good health.