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Family Perceptions of Mild Cognitive Impairment Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. Rosemary Blieszner, Ph.D.

Family Perceptions of Mild Cognitive Impairment Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. Rosemary Blieszner, Ph.D. Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America San Francisco, November 2007. Focus and Purpose. Focus: MCI and Family Relationships

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Family Perceptions of Mild Cognitive Impairment Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. Rosemary Blieszner, Ph.D.

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  1. Family Perceptions of Mild Cognitive Impairment Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. Rosemary Blieszner, Ph.D. Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America San Francisco, November 2007

  2. Focus and Purpose • Focus: MCI and Family Relationships • Conceptual Framework: Boss’ theory of ambiguous loss and Pearlin’s caregiving stress framework • Purpose: • Examine family members’ perceptions of their elder relative’s memory loss • Explore under what circumstances changes in the elders’ memory influence family relationship dynamics

  3. 45 Family Triads • Elder: aged 60+ • 32 males; 13 females • PCP: family member most involved in the elder’s life; familiar with clinic evaluation • 9 males; 36 females • 34 spouses; 6 adult children • SCP: relatives aware of the elder’s memory problems; monthly face-to-face contact with the elder & PCP • 11 males; 34 females • 39 adult children

  4. Coding Categories • Awareness of MCI changes • Family/friend dynamics • Social support • Care partner role • Negative emotions • Positive emotions • Negative interactions • Positive interactions

  5. SCP + SCP + SCP + MCI MCI MCI Elder + Elder +/- Elder + PCP + PCP + PCP +/- Acknowledgement of MCI Family Cluster A (n=16) Family Cluster B (n=13) Family Cluster C (n = 5)

  6. Relational Shifts SCP SCP SCP MCI MCI MCI (-) (-) Elder Elder Elder PCP PCP PCP (+) (+) Distancing Families (n = 14) Engaging Families (n = 4) Sustaining Families (n = 3)

  7. Secondary Care Providers SCP SCP SCP (+) (+) MCI MCI MCI (+) (-) Elder Elder Elder PCP PCP PCP (n =7) (n =4) (n =5)

  8. Summary Pronounced shifts in perceived closeness and quality of relationships in families in which an older member has MCI Acknowledgement of MCI Characterization of MCI PCPs expressed the most emotional stress SCPs response often associated with past relationship history Intensify emotional support for the elder and PCP With PCPs, collectively provide emotional support for the elder Distance him/herself from family

  9. Conclusions When family members avoid acknowledging the changes and losses associated with MCI, relationships suffered MCI-related distress often led to communication problems, conflict, and aggravation of pre-existing relationship issues that affected family members’ support and emotional involvement with one another Need for more family-level investigations to further understanding of relational complexities facing families in this pre-caregiving stage of memory loss

  10. For more information • kroberto@vt.edu • rmb@vt.edu • Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): What do we do now? http://www.gerontology.vt.edu/docs/Gerontology_MCI_final.pdf

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