Lived Experiences of Older Adults with Advanced CKD and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Study Uncovering Risk and Resilience Dynamics.

Background: To date, very little is known about the lived experiences of families impacted by chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially regarding the adaptive coping strategies these families use to successfully cope with the chronic stress they must face due to CKD.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative descriptive study was conducted by recruiting a sub-sample of adults with advanced CKD participating in the Canadian Frailty Observation and Interventions Trial (CanFIT) study and some of their caregivers. As part of this ongoing larger study, 12 adults with advanced CKD and seven of their caregivers (N = 19) completed one focus group discussion that explored topics related to their unique lived experiences of individuals impacted by CKD. Narrative data was analyzed using a 3-step inductive thematic analysis process.

Results: Three themes that portray participants' lived experiences were identified, including 1) experiencing chronic stress due to CKD; 2) coping successfully with the stress caused by CKD; and 3) recommendations to improve family well-being.

Conclusions: Social and health services for families impacted by CKD may be more effective in promoting the health, well-being, and quality of life of both adults with CKD and their caregivers if they acknowledge the chronic stressors these families face daily and provide support strategies that help them successfully cope with such stressors.