Who’s your family? African american caregivers of older adults with dementia

The nature and outcome of family caregiving is different for various racial and ethnic groups. The purpose of the current study was to use qualitative methods to examine and characterize family networks of African American family caregivers (N = 26) who provided care to family members with dementia (N = 18). Researchers used data generated from a parent study that addressed family involvement in health promotion activities for African American older adults with dementia. Data were analyzed using sociograms and thematic analysis. Three themes that characterized African American family caregiving networks were identified: (a) Complexity, (b) Familism, and (c) Religiosity. Findings suggest that narrowly defining family caregivers as a dyad of a caregiver and care recipient does not reflect how these family networks function. A better understanding of the complex functioning of these networks may help explain physical and psychological well-being outcomes for individuals with dementia and their family members.