Factors associated with the quality of life of family carers of people with dementia: A systematic review

Nicolas Farina; Thomas E Page; Stephanie Daley; Anna Brown; Ann Bowling; Thurstine Basset; Gill Livingston; Martin Knapp; Joanna Murray; Sube Banerjee

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2016.12.010

Factors associated with the quality of life of family carers of people with dementia: A systematic review

Alzheimers Dement. 2017 May;13(5):572-581. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.12.010. Epub 2017 Feb 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
² School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
³ Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
⁴ Lived Experience Advisory Panel, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Hove, UK.
⁵ Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
⁶ Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, London, UK.
⁷ Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
⁸ Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK. Electronic address: s.banerjee@bsms.ac.uk.

PMID: 28167069
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.12.010

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Discussion: 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.

Keywords: Dementia; Family caregivers; Family carers; Informal carers; Measurement Alzheimer's disease; Quality of life; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Caregivers / psychology*
Dementia / nursing*
Dementia / psychology
Humans
Quality of Life*