Components of family empowerment for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: focus group interviews

Background Strengthening empowerment plays a pivotal role in supporting family caregivers of older adults with dementia. This study explored the comprehensive caregiving experiences of both family caregivers and dementia care professionals to identify and describe the components of family empowerment within the Korean context. Methods A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured focus group interviews (FGIs). Participants included 14 family caregivers (3 groups) and 5 Dementia care professionals (1 group). Psychological Empowerment Model (PEM) served as the theoretical framework to understand the dimensions of empowerment. The specific components of empowerment in Korean family caregivers of older adults with dementia were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results Seven main themes and 14 sub-themes were identified as components of family empowerment. The main themes included: (1) Reconstructing the caregiving situation and awareness; (2) Acquiring dementia information through experiential means; (3) Satisfaction with doing my best in caregiving; (4) Balance between self-care and family care; (5) Securing and utilizing dementia-related resources; (6) Reflections of caregiving experiences; and (7) New roles and relationships created through caregiving. Conclusion The findings of the study elucidate that family empowerment of family caregivers of older adults with dementia is a multidimensional construct: it is established through the cognitive process of reconstructing caregiving perceptions, emotional fulfillment derived from the stability of the caregiving process, behavioral practices of balancing self-care with family care, and relational reinforcement gained through newly established roles. Future efforts should establish sustainable support systems through education, resource linkage, and emotional support. Additionally, we propose the development of empowerment intervention programs and measurement tools based on these identified components. Clinical trial number Not applicable.