title: Family caregivers and transition to long-term care.
abstract: This study's purpose was to explore family caregivers' experiences while they waited placement of family members with dementia in long-term care and how they coped during this period of waiting and transition. In this exploratory descriptive qualitative study, interviews were conducted with 29 caregivers at entry to the placement wait-list and at 3 to 4-month intervals thereafter. Final interviews, with 15 caregivers, were conducted shortly after admission to long-term care. When "the waiting begins," the themes of crisis as initiator, synchronicity, control, and reciprocity emerged. "After placement" included the themes of deeply bonded relationships, attempting continuity, and sorting out the change. The findings provide new insight into family caregiver experiences during and after placement of a family member with dementia in long-term care. Clinicians must recognize that wherever services are provided, at home before placement or in institutions after placement, family caregivers must be incorporated as full partners in care.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Vicki R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Strang
authors.forename: Priscilla M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Koop
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dupuis-Blanchard
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordstrom
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000416:Alberta; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003657:Decision Making; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists