Article of the month July

The article of the month for July 2018 is written by Therése Bielsten and her colleagues (including John Keady, Interdem-member). This article focuses on couples where one of the partners has a diagnoses of dementia. It uses a qualitative methodology to identify the most relevant content for a guide to be used by such couples. The themes that were identified are home and neighbourhood (including safety and social relationships), meaningful activities (involvement in daily activities, meetings), approach and empowerment (informing others about the diagnosis) and couplehood (spending time together).

A self-management tool covering these subject areas can be developed. The authors have no knowledge of any self-management support already developed for couples as couple, as a dyad. Most interventions focus on the family caregivers and/or the wider social network.

Living Life and Doing Things Together: Collaborative Research With Couples Where One Partner Has a Diagnosis of Dementia. Bielsten T, Lasrado R, Keady J, Kullberg A, Hellström I. Qual Health Res. 2018 Jul 1:1049732318786944. doi: 10.1177/1049732318786944. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30033851