Addressing Caregivers' Needs beyond Respite: Enhancing Social Connections and Letting Them Know They Matter

Respite for individuals caring for family living with dementia is a common way to take personal time away from caregiving. Other than respite, there is little indication that caregivers receive adequate support from community and healthcare services. As a result, caregivers tend to experience a decline in well-being, due, in part, to a reduction in meaningful leisure experiences. The purpose of this article is to share findings from research aimed at discovering ways to enhance caregiver participation in meaningful leisure. Findings highlight how participants sacrificed their leisure time in favour of caregiving responsibilities and experienced a diminished sense of social connection. Findings also highlight how participants can have their own care needs met through leisure programming that lets them know they matter. We draw from these findings to suggest ways to direct more attention and resources to meeting caregiver needs.