title: Finding meaning: an alternative paradigm for Alzheimer's disease family caregivers.
abstract: Theoretical formulations of stress and coping, family systems, crisis intervention, and loss and grief have inadequately explained how persons might grow and find meaning through their caregiving experiences. An existential theoretical framework guided the data interpretation in a qualitative study of 94 dementia family caregivers. Results suggest that an existential framework provides an alternative paradigm for understanding the caregiving experience.
authors.affiliation: Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Farran
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keane-Hagerty
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salloway
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kupferer
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wilken
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010684:Philosophy