PERCEIVED RELATIONSHIP BENEFITS OF CORESIDENT CAREGIVING IN PARENT-ADULT CHILD DEMENTIA CARE DYADS

Sep 29, 2026

Coresident caregiving can be both difficult and rewarding for people living with dementia (PLWD) and adult children who provide care. Limited evidence addresses how this transition changes the parent–adult child relationship from both perspectives. This mixed-methods study examined perceived relationship benefits after moving into coresident caregiving. Participants included 13 PLWD and their adult child care partners who began coresiding within 5 years. Separate recorded phone interviews and dyad-level qualitative content analysis identified five major themes: increased time together, mutual emotional and practical support, caregiving rewards, partner empathy, and resilience in sustaining the pre-caregiving relationship. Findings guide targeted interventions to support well-being during this critical transition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study Design and Participants

Interview Approach and Analysis

Major Relationship Benefit Themes

Implications for Interventions

1140 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3824 PERCEIVED RELATIONSHIP BENEFITS OF CORESIDENT CAREGIVING IN PARENT-ADULT CHILD DEMENTIA CARE DYADS Courtney Polenick, Kabreah Gunter, Sree Saripalli, Abbie Schoepke, Bhavana Rajesh, and Charity Garner, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States The transition to coresident caregiving may be both challenging and rewarding for people living with dementia (PLWD) and the adult child care partners who support them. However, we currently know little about how this transition can impact the parent-adult child relationship from the perspectives of both PLWD and their adult child care partners. In this mixed methods study, we evaluated perceived relationship benefits or improvements following the transition to coresident caregiving among PLWD and their adult child care partners. Participants included 13 people living with dementia (PLWD; M = 84.38 years, SD = 8.30) and their adult child care partners (M = 55.85 years, SD =5.86) who started coresiding with and supporting the PLWD within the past 5 years. Both care dyad members separately completed recorded phone interviews that included semi-structured questions about how sharing a home and caregiving has benefited or improved the parent-adult child relationship. We conducted qualitative content analysis to determine major themes in the transcribed semi-structured interview data at the dyad level. There were five major themes related to perceived relationship benefits or improvements within care dyads: 1) increased time spent together; 2) mutual exchanges of emotional and practical support; 3) caregiving rewards for both care partners and PLWD; 4) care partner empathy toward PLWD; and 5) resilience in maintaining a close and supportive pre-caregiving relationship. These findings inform targeted interventions to improve well-being among PLWD and their adult child care partners during the critical transition to coresident caregiving.

FAQs

What transition does the study focus on?

The study examines the transition to coresident caregiving, where PLWD and adult child care partners share a home and caregiving responsibilities.

How was data collected and analyzed?

Each dyad member completed recorded phone interviews with semi-structured questions, and qualitative content analysis was used to identify major themes at the dyad level.

What five themes describe perceived relationship benefits?

The themes are increased time spent together, mutual exchanges of emotional and practical support, caregiving rewards, care partner empathy, and resilience in maintaining a close supportive pre-caregiving relationship.

Sep 29, 2026

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