Caregiver Perspectives on Alzheimer's Care in the Turkish Sociocultural Context.

Abstract

In the context of global demographic change, the number of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia is steadily increasing. These individuals require ongoing care but often struggle to communicate their needs and preferences regarding quality care. This study re-examines existing qualitative data to explore perceptions of "quality care" for patients with AD within the Turkish sociocultural context. Building on a primary study of caregivers' definitions of quality care, it employs a secondary analysis approach to generate new insights without collecting additional data. The dataset includes face-to-face, semi-structured interviews conducted in 2018 with 15 formal and informal caregivers, including family members, professional caregivers, and managers from care institutions across four provinces in Türkiye. Analysis reveals that patients with AD often experience discomfort when their bodies are exposed or touched, particularly in ways that infringe upon their sense of privacy. Caregivers emphasised that protecting privacy relies on understanding the individual's life story, values, and preferences, highlighting the role of relational familiarity in delivering care. Many participants described forming close, family-like bonds, often adopting kinship roles to provide personalised support. These dynamics were also shaped by gender norms, with caregiving commonly framed through a mother-child lens, reflecting societal expectations that women assume primary caregiving responsibilities. The findings show how privacy, emotional closeness, and gender roles intersect to shape caregiving practices. These findings suggest that care quality for patients with AD in Türkiye may be enhanced by approaches that attend to cultural and relational dimensions, recognise caregiver support needs, and incorporate culturally attuned practices - though further research across diverse settings is needed to assess the broader applicability of these insights. These insights contribute to the international discourse on dementia care by showing how culturally specific practices can guide globally relevant approaches to quality care.