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Life after caregiving: understanding everyday resilience in the context of the bereavement phase of the caregiver journey

dc.contributor.authorSeidle, Julie Silver, author
dc.contributor.authorSample, Pat, advisor
dc.contributor.authorAtler, Karen, committee member
dc.contributor.authorEakman, Aaron, committee member
dc.contributor.authorFruhauf, Christine A., committee member
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-11T11:21:09Z
dc.date.available2023-01-08T11:21:09Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractDementia is a progressive illness that results in cognitive decline for aging adults requiring increased assistance with everyday life as symptoms worsen over time. An illness that is found largely in older adults, dementia rates are rising with the aging population. Dementia often is considered one of the most challenging illnesses for caregivers, given its progressive nature and the individual's subsequent, increased, and complex care needs. Much of the daily care for individuals with dementia is carried out by family members including spouses. Due to the ever-changing complexity of dementia care, spousal dementia caregivers (SDCs) are at an increased risk for negative health and well-being impacts, compared to their non-caregiving cohorts. The caregiving trajectory for SDCs inevitably includes the loss of the spouse, which ushers in one of the most difficult and disruptive role transitions experienced during the life course. The caregiver journey, however, does not necessarily end when the individual with dementia dies, but begins the final bereavement phase of the caregiver journey. This dissertation examines the experience of SDCs and the role of resilience during the bereavement phase of the caregiver journey. I conducted a phenomenological study to increase our understanding of the everyday lived experience of resilience for SDCs during the bereavement phase of the caregiver journey. I also completed a phenomenographical study to capture how SDCs conceptualized their experience during the bereavement phase of the caregiver journey. I offer key takeaways from the studies, then discuss my research approach and recommendations for future research and practice addressing resilience and dementia caregiving. I end this dissertation by situating my work within Occupational Science and Rehabilitation Science.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierSeidle_colostate_0053A_16376.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/219631
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectcaregiving
dc.subjectoccupational therapy
dc.subjectaging
dc.subjectresilience
dc.subjectdementia
dc.titleLife after caregiving: understanding everyday resilience in the context of the bereavement phase of the caregiver journey
dc.typeText
dcterms.embargo.expires2023-01-08
dcterms.embargo.terms2023-01-08
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineOccupational Therapy
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

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