Abstract
Rationale: The prevalence of older South Asian people living in the UK and caring for a family member with dementia is rising. Literature on the effects of caregiving on carers suggests that caregiving is a complex role that impacts upon the physical, emotional and financial well-being of carers. Yet South Asian carers typically underutilise services and express a preference for care within the family. Little is known about the impact of caring for a loved one with dementia on South Asian families. This thesis presents a qualitative study exploring the experiences of caring for a loved one with dementia in South Asian families. Method: Using semi-structured interviews, the study explored the experiences of three wife and daughter/in-law dyads and one wife who currently care for a husband/father/father-in-law with dementia. Results: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the data revealed three main themes: Loss, Organising Family Processes and Empowerment and Validation. The experiences within these themes highlighted the challenges of caregiving, the coping strategies of the families and the rewards arising out of participants’ caregiving experiences. Conclusion: It is suggested that professionals working with South Asian carers living in joint families should consider the impact of caregiving on all family members, help carers to address loss and work collaboratively with carers to evaluate both the burdens and satisfactions of caregiving to foster carer well-being and resilience.