Sage

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including delusions, cognitive disturbance, and marked difficulties with social functioning and networks.

Methods: Using the random-effects meta-analysis model, we investigated the effect of informal caregiving on all-cause mortality across 12 longitudinal population-based studies (seven United States; five international: United Kingdom, Northern Ireland [2], Japan, and Australia). Results: Across the studies, the combined effect of informal caregiving on all-cause mortality was 16% lower in favor of caregivers. Subgroup analyses revealed that the relationship between informal caregiving and all-cause mortality was not significant among the U.S.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the psychological and physical health needs of informal caregivers in a rehabilitation hospital and explore differences related to informal caregiver and care recipient characteristics. Readiness to engage in health promotion and perspectives on mindfulness meditation were assessed. Methods: Informal caregivers (N = 33) to patients receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment completed the Multidimensional Health Profile screening tools. Readiness to change was assessed using the readiness ruler approach.

This qualitative study explores informal caregivers’ experiences of supporting persons with dementia’s everyday life coping. In the future, there will be fewer health personnel, increased dementia prevalence and limited nursing home availability. Accordingly, close relatives may be compelled to assume greater care responsibilities. Knowledge concerning persons with dementia’s everyday coping from the perspective of informal caregivers remains insufficient, despite these people’s importance for those with dementia.

Background: There has been a documented increase in the numbers of filial and sandwiched caregivers in the United States. However, past studies have overlooked the impact of work and family overload on caregiver well-being. Methods: This study investigates the moderating influences of the quality and directionality of work and family spillover on the well-being (e.g., positive affect and negative affect, psychological well-being, and global well-being) of 180 filial and sandwiched caregivers from the second wave of the Midlife in the United States Survey.

Background: Scant evidence reveals the influences of Confucianism on family caregiving in dementia. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of Confucianism on the perceptions and process of caring among the Chinese family caregivers. Method: A qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interviews with 15 Chinese family caregivers of persons with dementia in three elderly care centers in Hong Kong. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed, while a thematic analysis was performed to analyze the transcript at the latent level.

Background: This study examined the impact of current and future long-term care (LTC) policies on the family caregiving burden in China. System dynamics (SD) methodology was used to construct an LTC delivery system model that simulates the demand of LTC, living options, and LTC service use for disabled older adults. Methods: The model was based on three policy variables including the proportion of payment from LTC insurance, the growth rate of beds in LTC institutions, and the time to adjusting the capacity of community-based care.

Background: In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or COVID-19, raised worldwide concern. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced health and wellness across the globe and caused nearly three million deaths. This study focuses on informal caregivers of people with dementia, a disease that affects about 50 million older adults worldwide and requires much caregiving support.

Background: Little is known about the family experience of caregiving for persons living with dementia (PLWD) at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of COVID-19 on concerns of current family caregivers of PLWD. Methods: Study participants were recruited from the parent study, Healthy Patterns Clinical Trial (NCT03682185). Results: Data was collected from 34 caregivers via semi-structured telephone interviews.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to shed light on the experience of parents of children who suffer from various stages of renal failure. Methods: Semistructured qualitative interviews conducted with 12 parents were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Findings: Eight themes were identified and organized into two superordinate themes: intrasubjective experience and intersubjective experience.