11. Caring as a positive experience

Researchers have looked at carers needs in the context of relationships. Caring relationships can promote security, continuity, belonging, purpose achievement and significance.

Let us take a look at each of these in turn:

·         Achievement: being a carer develops new skills and abilities and these achievements help carers to feel that they have provided the best possible care,

·         Security: carers expressed their need to feel confident in their knowledge and ability to provide good care while having adequate support networks, especially at times when help is required or needed. Carers also said that they needed to know when it was time to relinquish care,

·         Continuity: even if a person with dementia goes to live in a Nursing Home, carers want to stay involved in their care. Carers know the person with dementia, they know their likes and dislikes, and they know their life story and it is important to convey this to the health care professionals,

·         Belonging: if carers stay involved in care they can maintain and improve relationships and share pleasures with the person with dementia,

·         Significance: caring for someone with dementia helps carers feel appreciated and valued.