Living with the dying: Using the wisdom of mindfulness to support caregivers of older adults with dementia

Abstract

High levels of stress among family and professional caregivers of older adults with dementia are associated with physical and mental health problems, and decreased quality of care. Existing stress reduction interventions are based on the western medical model of care. They typically focus on providing caregivers with support, psychoeducation or behaviour management skills, and these interventions have typically had modest outcomes. An especially promising intervention for dementia caregivers, which is based on the eastern holistic model of care, is mindfulness training. Despite more than 20 years of research demonstrating the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions, their applicability for caregivers has received very little attention in the psychological research literature. We discuss how mindfulness training, as an alternative or adjunct to existing interventions, can help caregivers cope with providing care to dying older adults more skilfully, leading to reduced stress, enhanced well-being and improved quality of care.