Factors associated with the quality of life of family carers of people with dementia: A systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Family carers of people with dementia are their most important support in practical, personal, and economic terms. Carers are vital to maintaining the quality of life (QOL) of people with dementia. This review aims to identify factors related to the QOL of family carers of people with dementia.


METHODS
Searches on terms including "carers," "dementia," "family," and "quality of life" in research databases. Findings were synthesized inductively, grouping factors associated with carer QOL into themes.


RESULTS
A total of 909 abstracts were identified. Following screening, lateral searches, and quality appraisal, 41 studies (n = 5539) were included for synthesis. A total of 10 themes were identified: demographics; carer-patient relationship; dementia characteristics; demands of caring; carer health; carer emotional well-being; support received; carer independence; carer self-efficacy; and future.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality and level of evidence supporting each theme varied. We need further research on what factors predict carer QOL in dementia and how to measure it.
Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
Nicolas
N
Farina
School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Thomas E
TE
Page
Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
Stephanie
S
Daley
School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Anna
A
Brown
Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Ann
A
Bowling
Lived Experience Advisory Panel, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Hove, UK.
Thurstine
T
Basset
Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Gill
G
Livingston
Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, London, UK.
Martin
M
Knapp
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Joanna
J
Murray
Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK. Electronic address: s.banerjee@bsms.ac.uk.
Sube
S
Banerjee
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life
Dementia; Family caregivers; Family carers; Informal carers; Measurement Alzheimer's disease; Quality of life; Systematic review