Does a Dementia Group Increase Relationship Satisfaction in couplehood
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does a Post-Diagnostic Dementia Group Increase Relationship Satisfaction in Couplehood?
IRAS ID
130446
Contact name
Catrin Eames
Contact email
Research summary
Despite the demands that dementia places on health care services, informal carers bear much of the cost (Camden, Livingston, & Cooper 2011), as many people with dementia remain at home, being cared for by their spouse. Spouses are often older themselves (Parker, 1997) and they experience higher rates of depression and poorer physical health than the general population (Schultz, Visintainer, & Williamson, 1990), as well as stress and burden (Montgomery & Williams, 2001). The progression of dementia means that interventions to support carers and those cared for, are required to acknowledge the temporal impact of dementia, for example care at the time of diagnosis is likely to be different from care at a palliative stage (Gallagher-Thompson and Coon, 2007).
Therefore, dementia can add strain onto the relationship of couples, yet it remains unclear whether interventions for couples, when one has a diagnosis of dementia are effective. The aim of this research is to explore whether attending a post diagnostic support group increases relationship satisfaction in couples when one person has a diagnosis of dementia.
The post diagnostic group has a structured format with a combination of information giving and discussion. It is novel in that the person with dementia and their carer attend the group, in its entirety, together. The rationale behind this was that the couple will be experiencing dementia together so should be given the opportunity to learn about it, and discuss it together. In line with this, one element of the group is helping both parties understand dementia from the other person’s perspective.Couples attending the post diagnostic group will be approached to consent to the research. If they consent they will be asked to complete questionnaires at three time points; 8weeks pre group, at the first session and at the last session of the group.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0587
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion