The lucidity in dementia experience: perspectives from family and professional caregivers

Abstract Background Family and professional caregivers of individuals with dementia often witness care-receiver’s lucidity events. Objective A qualitative data analysis was performed of documented family and professional caregivers’ experiences and their respective appraisals of lucidity events. Research Design and Methods Using a reduction method of selection, data from 10 in-home family caregivers and 20 professional caregivers to long-term care residents was content-coded and analysed. Framed by a priori research questions, a summative approach to qualitative content analysis guided the interpretation of findings. Results Eight of 10 family- and 15 of 20 staff caregivers gave an example of what they believed was a witnessed lucid event; 88% of family- and 40% of staff caregivers’ provided examples that appeared to fit the conceptual definition of lucidity. The emotional impact that the events had on both sets of caregivers was reported. Family caregivers’ characterization of lucidity events reflected appraisals of a puzzling occurrence while staff caregivers depicted elements associated with dementia, and lucidity descriptors. The enhanced verbal communication followed by the brief, unexpected quality of lucidity, were the main elements highlighted by both sets of caregivers in their description of lucidity to others. The variability and complexity of the lucidity phenomenon and the potential challenges it poses for both sets of caregivers were characterized. Commonalities and divergences across responses were highlighted. Discussion Findings validated previous studies’ results. The notions introduced by both types of caregivers were thought-provoking and borne practical, clinical, ethical, and assessment (measurement) applicability.