Experience and Perspectives of Caregivers of Spouses with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

To describe commonalities of the lived experience of being a spouse caregiver of a person with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Design and Methods: The Colaizzi method of empirical phenomenology was used for interviewing and analyzing data obtained from 10 spouse caregivers of persons with MCI.

Results: Four major themes were found and labeled: (a) Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together-There Really is Something Wrong; (b) A Downward Spiral into a World of Silence; (c) Consequences to Caregivers of Living in a World of Silence; (d) Taking Charge of Care.

Implications: The findings of this study provided data rich in implications for interventions to help caregivers to gain awareness, information, and skills to more effectively deal with and adjust to the caregiving of their spouse with MCI over the long-term.

Keywords: Caregiver perspectives, caregiving issues, mild cognitive impairment, stress and coping.

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