How Family Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer Disease Achieve Mental Breaks: Preliminary Analysis from a Qualitative Study

Abstract

There has been growing awareness that respite for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer Disease can be conceptualized as a positive inner psychological experience as well as a service to provide a physical break. Little is known, however, about the specific activities and strategies caregivers use to achieve therapeutic mental breaks from caregiving concerns. This study examined the strategies and circumstances identified by 15 adult primary caregivers as providing mental breaks. Caregivers participated in two qualitative interview sessions and follow up member checks. Case-by-case and cross-case analyses, and structural synthesis were conducted to develop a working model describing mental breaks. This paper overviews the model, presents two cases illustrating model components, and provides preliminary implications for practice to stimulate therapists' thinking about applications for helping caregivers achieve mental breaks.