Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Dementia prevalence is rising globally, with a significant impact on low-resource countries like Nepal.
• Aging populations and limited medical infrastructure exacerbate the dementia care burden in Nepal.
• Family caregivers in Nepal face substantial financial, emotional, and physical challenges due to inadequate support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the daily realities and experiences of dementia caregivers in Nepal.
• To identify coping strategies employed by these caregivers.
• To explore potential improvements for dementia caregiver support networks in Nepal.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory study utilizing purposive and snowball sampling.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 diverse dementia caregivers in Nepal.
• Thematic analysis applied to interview data following a six-step approach.

Main Results:

• Caregivers experience multifaceted challenges: physical, psychological, social, and financial.
• Key themes include the learning process of management, facilitators, and barriers to adequate care.
• Lack of respite care and social support significantly hinders caregivers, despite viewing caregiving as a duty.

Conclusions:

• Home-based dementia caregivers in Nepal are essential but face considerable difficulties.
• Strengthening support through education, resources, and formal systems is crucial for enhancing care quality.
• Recommendations include developing community support groups, caregiver education programs, and home-based healthcare services.