SoCA - Experiences and acting of informal carers with relation to the stability of their home-based care arrangement

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and actions of informal carers with regard to selected concepts of the SoCA-Dem theory and to understand the dynamic interplay of these concepts. The central research questions were: How do informal carers describe and perceive their dyadic relationship, their carer role and the resources of their care arrangement? How are these concepts interrelated? Problem-centered interviews with informal dementia carers were interpreted by a thematic qualitative text analysis. The structure and quality of the dyadic relationship shape the informal carers’ self-conception of the carer role. This influences the integration of resources into the care arrangement. Conversely, the quantity and quality of informal and formal support result in a feeling of relief or overload in the carer role, that shape the informal carers’ way of living their dyadic relationship. The respective forming of the concepts has a significant impact with regard to the perceived stability or instability of the care situation. The results of this study deepen the knowledge of the researched concepts of the SoCA-Dem theory. They provide indications for further theory development as well as for the design of future empirical studies.

Publications

Köhler, K., Dreyer, J., Hochgraeber, I., Pinkert, C., von Kutzleben, M., Holle, B., & Roes, M. (2022). Dyadic relationship, carer role, and resources: a theory-driven thematic analysis of interviews with informal carers focusing on the stability of home-based care arrangements for people living with dementia. BMC Geriatr, 22(1), 908. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03618-y