Resilience in caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease: A human condition to overcome caregiver vulnerability

• Main Authors: Bernardino Fernández-Calvo, Israel Contador Castillo, Francisco Ramos Campos, Virginia Menezes de Lucena e Carvalho, Joenilton Cazé da Silva, Nelson Torro-Alves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
• Series: Estudos de Psicologia (Natal)
• Subjects: enfermedad de alzheimer; resiliencia, vulnerabilidad; intervención psicológica; cuidador
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-294X2016000200125&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract In general, the experience of providing assistance to and dealing with the complications experienced by a person with Alzheimer's disease puts caregivers in a situation of high risk, vulnerability, and stress, causing serious physical and emotional problems. However, some caregivers adopt a resilient mindset, which helps them to experience and express positive feelings as well as lower their burden in relation to the care. This positive experience occurs because caregivers perceive the process of caring as less adverse. They face the situation of care with a more positive mindset and are able to resist and maintain adaptive functioning. The objective of the present narrative literature review was to emphasize the need to develop intervention programs for caregivers based on salutogenic models of resilience, resistance, and personal growth to promote positive individual, family, and community resources.