Caregiver-provider relationship quality and health outcomes in family caregivers of people living with dementia

Objectives Family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) work with healthcare providers to ensure effective care coordination on behalf of the care recipient. However, challenges within the caregiver-healthcare provider relationship are common and may contribute to poor caregiver health outcomes. This study examined the impact of perceived quality of the relationship between family caregivers and healthcare providers and the caregivers’ daily mental health symptom burden (depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress). Methods The study included 228 family caregivers who lived with and provided unpaid care to a family member with dementia. Linear Mixed-Effects Models (LMM) were developed to assess whether the caregiver-provider relationship was associated with caregiver daily depressive symptoms, daily anxiety, and daily stress. Results Of 228 caregivers, 82% were female, 84% were spouses or partners of the care recipient, and 9% of caregivers were classified as living in poverty. Caregivers who rated their providers’ affect (perceptions of being valued, respected, and emotionally supported) more positively reported lower daily depressive symptoms (β= -0.06, p = .001) and anxiety symptoms (β= -0.07, p < .001). The caregiver-provider relationship was not associated with daily stress experiences. Discussion Findings from the study suggest that healthcare provider affect (perceptions of being valued, respected, and emotionally supported) may be a protective factor, especially against depressive symptoms and anxiety, and offer an avenue for future interventions. Integrating caregiver-provider relationship-informed practices into routine dementia care may help foster emotionally responsive, person- and family-centered care.