The Post-caregiving Health Model: A Theoretical Framework for Understanding the Health of Former Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Presently, there is a dearth of theoretical models to guide research on the population of former dementia caregivers. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the Post-caregiving Health Model and its potential for generating a more nuanced understanding of the health of family caregivers following the death of a care recipient with dementia. The model highlights the impact of personal and environmental characteristics, appraisal, coping, and emotion on long-term health outcomes in this population and offers a viable framework for studying long-term health outcomes among caregivers following the care recipient's death.