Behavioral and Social Sciences

The Men in DeMENtia Caregiving: Understanding Men's Experiences

Chair(s)

• 

  Allison Lindauer, PhD, APRN (she/her/hers)

  Associate Professor
  Neurology
  Oregon Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University
  Portland, Oregon, United States

  Slides

Discussant(s)

• KH

  Kenneth Hepburn, PhD, FGSA (he/him/his)

  Professor, Tenured
  School of Nursing
  Emory University
  Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Carolyn Clevenger, RN, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN (she/her/hers)

  Professor
  Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
  Emory University
  Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 

  Lauren Dowden, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers)

  Clinical Social Worker
  Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's disease
  Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  Chicago, Illinois, United States
• 

  Robert Turner, II, PhD

  Associate Professor
  Clinical Research & Leadership
  The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
  Washington, District of Columbia, United States
• 

  Aimee Mooney, M.S., CCC-SLP

  Assistant Professor
  Oregon Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
  Oregon Health & Science University
  Portland, Oregon, United States

About 30% of caregivers for family members with dementia are men, and their numbers are rising with the increasing prevalence of dementia. However, there is limited information in the extant literature about the number of men providing care to family members with dementia, their experiences, and their engagement in caregiving research. What is known is concerning. Men, like women, experience burden in the caregiving role and are at higher risk for health problems than non-caregivers. In addition, men may experience role confusion and feel unprepared to assume the caregiving role. Finally, little is known about what motivates men to participate in dementia caregiving research. Here we describe men’s experiences from three groups: Black American men, men caring for family members with primary progressive aphasia, and men caring for family members with advanced dementia. Along with quantitative and qualitative data, we will present findings from focus groups which center on men’s motivations for joining research studies, perceived benefits of research participation, and men’s concerns about research, including biospecimen collection. Unique insights and needs from each group will be addressed, along with strategies to promote recruitment and retention of men in caregiving research.

Presentations:

• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Clinical Approaches to Support Male Dementia Family Caregivers
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Carolyn K. Clevenger, RN, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN (she/her/hers) – Emory University
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Caring for Persons Living With Primary Progressive Aphasia: An Investigation of the Male Experience
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Lauren Dowden, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers) – Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Exploring the Unique Needs and Experiences of Black Male Caregivers
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Robert W. Turner, II, PhD – The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Caring for Family Members With Advanced Dementia: Men's Experiences
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Aimee Mooney, M.S., CCC-SLP – Oregon Health & Science University