In collaboration with Dr. Sato Ashida at the University of Iowa, we completed a pilot study examining caregiving networks of families affected by Alzheimers disease and related dementia (ADRD). The goal was to pilot an assessment tool we developed to uncover the Caregiving Roles and Expectations within informal caregiving Networks (or CaRENet). Index participants were recruited from four dementia care facilities and snowball sampling was used to recruit family members. A total of 72 family caregivers from 30 families answered interview questions regarding their social networks systems, cognitions and emotions about the disease and caregiving, well-being, and socio-demographic characteristics. Additionally, patient information was obtained from 43 formal care providers. From this pilot study, we have shown the value of a multi-informant approach to capture the structure and composition of the caregiving network system that surrounds those affected by ADRD. Further, we have shown that social relationships are both stressors and coping resources which have significant influence on caregiver well-being. This work has resulted in one publication, one paper in press, and one manuscript that is currently under review. As well, a paper describing differences in family conversation content was presented at the annual meeting of the International Network of Social Network Analysis this year. We have expanded our inquiry to consider how such caregiving experiences might differ according to the life stage, disease context, and disease stage faced by each caregiver and care recipient. As such, we are partnering with colleagues who have established patient cohorts in the NIH Clinical Center, including the Undiagnosed Diseases Program and patients with inborn errors of metabolism and mitochondrial disease. In each, patients require significant caregiving resources related to activities of daily living. Those enrolled in this research complete a survey and interview; primary caregivers who visit the NIH Clinical Center are also asked to provide samples for biomarker assessment. During the current reporting period, we have begun recruitment of caregivers and family members for this new research. To that end, we have successfully consented 210 individuals from 108 families involved in caregiving networks.
| Ashida, Sato; Marcum, Christopher Steven; Koehly, Laura M (2018) Unmet Expectations in Alzheimer's Family Caregiving: Interactional Characteristics Associated With Perceived Under-Contribution. Gerontologist 58:e46-e55 |
| Marcum, Christopher Steven; Ashida, Sato; Koehly, Laura M (2018) Primary Caregivers in a Network Context. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci : |
| Koehly, Laura M (2017) It's Interpersonal: Family Relationships, Genetic Risk, and Caregiving. Gerontologist 57:32-39 |
| Koehly, Laura M; Ashida, Sato; Schafer, Ellen J et al. (2015) Caregiving networks-using a network approach to identify missed opportunities. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 70:143-54 |
