BACKGROUND: Caring for a person living with dementia can take a physical and emotional toll, but understudied is the process by which family caregivers actually provide care.

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• The Effects of Creative Reminiscing on Individuals with Dementia and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study (2014) · doi

  Conclusions: While using a carefully considered creative reminiscence activity intervention for clients with dementia can cause a decrease in caregivers' perception of their own burden and an increase in their perceptions of the loved ones' quality of life, future research is needed to determine the subtle nuances in well-being of individuals with memory loss and their caregivers.

  Keywords: caregivers conclusions using carefully considered creative reminiscence activity intervention clients dementia cause decrease perception burden
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Caregivers of Dementia Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2018) · doi

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is limited evidence for the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in managing psychological morbidities in caregivers of dementia patients.

  Keywords: background objectives there limited evidence efficacy cognitive behavioral therapy managing psychological morbidities caregivers dementia patients
• Improving Respite Outcomes for Caregivers: Who Benefits and Under What Conditions? (2025) · doi

  Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) pose a substantial caregiving burden in the United States, yet efforts to improve caregiver well-being have seen mixed results.

  Keywords: alzheimer disease related dementias adrd pose substantial caregiving burden united states efforts improve caregiver well
• Does early-stage intervention improve caregiver well-being or their ability to provide care to persons with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment? A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2021) · doi

  Interventions for caregivers of persons with dementia are well supported, but it remains unclear whether caregivers benefit from early-stage intervention when caring for persons with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

  Keywords: caregivers persons dementia mild interventions well supported remains unclear whether benefit early stage intervention caring
• Effects of a Modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Trial (2020) · doi

  Future research is recommended to further examine its effects on the varieties of psychological and behavioral outcomes of both caregivers and care recipients and their dyadic relationships, as well as explore its mechanism of action in facilitating dementia caregiving.

  Keywords: future recommended further examine effects varieties psychological behavioral outcomes caregivers care recipients dyadic relationships well
• Relationship Between Emotions, Emotion Regulation, and Well-Being of Professional Caregivers of People With Dementia (2015) · doi

  So far, limited research has been carried out to better understand the interplay between the emotions, the use of emotion regulation strategies, and the well-being of professional caregivers of People with Dementia (PwD).

  Keywords: limited carried better understand interplay emotions emotion regulation strategies well professional caregivers people dementia
• Caregiver depression after bereavement: Chronic stress isn't over when it's over. (1994) · doi

  Although the adverse mental health consequences of caregiving for a relative with a progressive dementia are well documented, little is known about caregivers' adaptation after bereavement.

  Keywords: adverse mental health consequences caregiving relative progressive dementia well documented little known caregivers adaptation bereavement
• Caregiving Models and Cognitive Decline in Middle-aged and Older Adults with Limitations in Activities of Daily Living: A CHARLS Cohort Study (2011–2020) (2026) · doi

  Background: Limitations in Activities of Daily Living represent a crucial risk factor for cognitive decline, while the role of caregiving models in this process remains unclearly elucidated.

  Keywords: background limitations activities daily living represent crucial risk factor cognitive decline role caregiving models process