Perceiving and Giving Meaning to Dementia among Caregivers for African American and White Elders: Rural and Urban Differences

Principal Investigator: Dr. Peggye Dilworth-Anderson

Funder: Alzheimer's Association

Abstract: This will address three major foci (1) it will identify and describe cultural values and beliefs that influence how families perceive and give meaning to dementia; (2) it will examine the influence of culture, geographic location, and other social factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, family cohesion) on the level and type of help caregivers seek when caring for an older relative with dementia; and (3), it will examine the influence of social factors, in particular the role of culture, on physical functioning, general health, and depression of caregivers.

Overall, this study addresses a major gap in the literature that speaks to culture, and not just race. The heuristic logic of the study is to uncover critical, but previously unstudied, cultural and social dimensions of meaning through an intensive qualitative approach. Qualitative information will be used to augment the quantitative assessments of sources of variation in health and functional status, and help-seeking behavior of family members involved in the care of elders with dementia, in a larger sample. This synthesis is expected to yield a more complete model that can be applied in a variety of cultural contexts. Most notably, findings from this study can lead to the development of culturally sensitive interventions that are appropriate and acceptable for elders with dementia and their caregivers.