When an Aging Spouse Has Dementia: Impact of a Home-Based Intervention on Marital Communication

Researchers tested the impact of a 10-week intervention, Communicating About Relationships and Emotions (CARE), on misunderstandings and resolutions in marital communication between spouses affected by dementia. A single group, repeated-measures secondary analysis was used to analyze 65 transcribed dyadic conversations for misunderstandings, resolutions, number of caregiver and care receiver words over 10 sessions. Misunderstandings continued to occur over 10 weeks, but resolution of misunderstandings increased (beta = 5.75, p = .044). Increased caregiver words escalated misunderstandings. Dementia-related language impairments threaten relationships by creating frustration and stress in older couples. With CARE, spouse caregivers can improve resolution of misunderstandings.

Automated summary

The study found that an increase in caregiver words could escalate misunderstandings, but through the intervention of Communicating About Relationships and Emotions (CARE), misunderstandings in marital communication between spouses affected by dementia can be improved.