Sleep Profiles of Caregivers for Persons Living with Dementia: A Qualitative Study.
Glenna S Brewster, Christina Pierpaoli Parker, Fayron Epps and 2 others
PMID 37161397WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of people with dementia showed three sleep profiles.
Some reported worsened sleep with distress, some worsened sleep but felt satisfied, and others had poor sleep that started before caregiving. These groups differ in motivation for behavioral sleep interventions.
Key findings
01Three distinct caregiver sleep profiles emerged: changed and dissatisfied, changed and satisfied, and unchanged and dissatisfied.
02Caregivers in the 'changed and dissatisfied' group reported worsened sleep and current distress since starting caregiving.
03Caregivers in the 'unchanged and dissatisfied' group reported poor sleep prior to caregiving that continued to cause distress.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (n=19) and lacked Hispanic participants. Sleep data was subjective and recalled retrospectively, which may be inaccurate for long-term caregivers. Participants had already completed a 6-month intervention in the parent study, which may have influenced their responses, although sleep was not a direct topic of that intervention.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all caregivers with disrupted sleep are distressed or seeking treatment. Some caregivers report changed sleep patterns but feel satisfied and are not distressed, which may make them less likely to engage in behavioral sleep interventions compared to those who are dissatisfied.