Development of a conceptual framework of positive aspects of caregiving in dementia

Research on family caregivers usually focuses more on stress and burden, especially in the context of looking after a person with dementia. This leads to fewer considerations of positive aspects of care giving. Thus enhancing these positive aspects represents an innovative approach to caregivers' support. Furthermore, these aspects need more conceptualisation to underpin the development of such an approach. This article proposes a conceptual framework of the positive aspects of care giving based on an integrative literature review. This conceptual framework provides a comprehensive model that should improve understanding of positive aspects of care giving. It could also contribute to the development of innovative support programs based on the positive aspects instead of the negative aspects of care giving.