The relationship between coping with caring and lifestyle behaviours in dementia carers

2012 Conference

Abstract: The study examined the relationship between coping with caring and lifestyle behaviours in dementia carers.

Findings indicated that lifestyle activities in carers are predicted by levels of carer burden and perceived self-efficacy. Depression determines whether a caregiver will engage in health behaviour. Improving health behaviour and health practices in carers can decrease the experience of care burden which might also be associated with better outcomes for patients and promote positive outcomes for carers. It is likely to increase our knowledge in relation to promoting health practices and how best to respond to ill health, anxiety and depression in carers.

Findings could aid in designing interventions that promote health behaviour and coping ability in carers within specific domains of caregiving viz. whether coping is related to acceptance of the diagnosis; advance care planning; coping responses in carers may differ between different subtypes of dementia.

Future studies could also examine coping in relation to preparations of the family to learn to live with the disease, in arranging long term care. Knowledge of the disease may influence coping ability or health behaviours in dementia caregiving, for example about disease progression, medication and its potential benefits and adverse effects may influence the way carers cope with specific aspects of the care giving situation; aid to investigate whether coping ability or health behaviour in carers is influenced by availability of care provisions by statutory providers, or support received by voluntary organisations including respite services; help to investigate the extent to which health behaviours or coping responses in carers may change as a result of the progression of the disease.

Present findings could assist interventions for potential benefits of health behaviour interventions for carer and PwD.