[How family caregivers adapt to Lewy body disease - tracking family caregivers' perceptions of their caregiving relationships].

Abstract

This one-year longitudinal study examined the relationship between caregivers' perceptions of their caregiving role and their psychological health when supporting individuals with Lewy body disease. The findings indicate that a lack of time and family support significantly affects caregivers' psychological health. Additionally, prioritizing emotion-focused coping strategies over problem-focused strategies is associated with a deterioration in psychological health over time. The study also identified distinct caregiver profiles based on variations in the financial consequences of caregiving, self-esteem evolution, and perceived family support over time. These findings highlight the necessity of personalized interventions tailored to the specific needs of caregivers of individuals with Lewy body disease. Overall, this study emphasizes the dynamic and complex nature of caregiving for individuals with Lewy body disease and underscores the importance of long-term support strategies to mitigate stress and promote caregivers' psychological health. Effective support programs should not only promote adaptive coping strategies but also foster intrafamilial communication to improve recognition of caregiving constraints. Given the heterogeneous nature of caregiving experiences, interventions should be adapted to different caregiver profiles.