Resilience in Dementia: Perspectives of Individuals with Dementia and Their Care Partners

• Author / Creator

  Earle, Kelsey F.

• This study examined the protective and vulnerability factors operating in the lives of individuals with dementia and their care partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two participants with dementia and five care partner participants. Screening measures were also completed with the participants with dementia to assess cognition, mental health, quality of life, communication, and relative saliency of factors previously identified in the literature. Factors identified by participants with dementia were: ‘Communication’, ‘Family and Friends’, ‘Perspective and Attitude’, and ‘Quality of Care’. Factors identified by care partner participants were: ‘Communication’, ‘Understanding Dementia’, ‘Relationship’, ‘Quality of Care’, and ‘Care of Self’. Based on these factors, this study also identified the possibility of clinical intervention by speech-language pathologists and other health professionals that may help to support or foster resilient behaviour in this population.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Resilience
  • Care partners
  • Dementia

• Graduation date

  Spring 2016

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R31G0J882

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.