Research indicates that the quality of the couple relationship in the context of dementia is of vital importance, with lower quality of relationship being associated with higher levels of depression in the carer, greater carer strain and lower perception of their effectiveness as a carer.
Many people are looked after by their partners at home, at least in the early stages of dementia, and efforts in health and social policy are at present directed towards trying to encourage home treatment. There are obvious economic reasons for this, as the cost of institutional care to public and private finances is very high.
Research also suggests that the quality of the relationship as reported by the carer partner, as well as carer partner stress, predicts the psychological well-being of the partner with dementia, as well as a number of other aspects of their functional ability.
Tavistock Relationships has developed an intervention to help couples where one partner has been diagnosed with dementia. Read more about it here:
Research suggests that the quality of the relationship as reported by the carer partner...predicts the psychological well-being of the partner with dementia
10 New Street, London, UK, EC2M 4TP - Tel: 020 7380 1975
Registered Charity Number: 211058. Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology.
Company number: 241618.
10 New Street, London EC2M 4TP
Tel: 020 7380 1975
Registered Charity Number: 211058. Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology. Company number: 241618.