Article

Most occupational therapy interventions for caregivers are designed to
reduce negative consequences of caregiving by building skills to manage problem
behaviors and dependence. However, therapists may be missing an opportunity to
provide interventions that directly help caregivers to emphasize and act on
positive aspects of care. We describe care-related thinking and action processes
of long-term caregivers who report positive effects related to caring for a
spouse with dementia. METHOD: We analyzed data from 15 experienced and uplifted
(reporting improved well-being from caregiving) spouse caregivers to describe how
they think about and carry out their care duties. RESULTS: We describe two
primary themes of caregiver thinking and action: (1) engaging in positive
behaviors and (2) making adjustments in attitudes. CONCLUSION: These findings
support a new focus for occupational therapy caregiver intervention that promotes
a positive approach to thinking about and enacting care tasks.

Langue : ANGLAIS