A Long and Winding Road: Dementia Caregiving With Grit and Grace.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Many dementia caregivers provide care for numerous years. Exhibiting grit, or commitment and persistence in the face of adversity, may bolster their ability to manage caregiving challenges. We explored grit in relationship to memory and behavior problems and response to stressors among women engaged in long-term dementia care.

Research design and methods

Informed by a life course perspective, and guided by stress-process theory, we interviewed 10 women with a spouse or parent initially diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment 4 times over 10 years. Using Charmaz's analysis methods and grit as a sensitizing concept, we employed an unfolding analytic strategy involving (a) thematic analysis to identify expressions of grit in response to caregiving str

SUBMITTER: Roberto KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6735788 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature