The context of dementia: visualizing the features of daily life for rural-dwelling, informal, veteran dementia dyads

Abstract

Rural-dwelling, informal, veteran dementia caregiving dyads (a veteran diagnosed with dementia (PWD) and their caregiver) make up a population with unique needs compared to their non-caregiving or urban caregiver counterparts. However, according to commonly used measures of and approaches to studying rurality (e.g., Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes, RUCA), individual differences are underrepresented in the design, implementation, and delivery of dementia-focused care for rural older PWDs and their caregivers. The present study qualitatively categorized daily life needs in the context of informal, rural-dwelling, dementia caregiving, and developed visualizations to present the findings across several stakeholder groups. In turn, the objective of this study was to gain more contextualized awareness this population’s daily-life needs by means of this novel qualitative-visual analysis approach. Rapid, thematic, and content analyses were performed on 30 semi-structured interviews with dementia dyads associated with the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. A categorical understanding of the sample’s daily life needs (including activities and resources) emerged and was translated visually using two data visualization modalities: Network Analysis and Life-Space Mapping. Results suggest this two-stage method of qualitative and visual analysis successfully delivers insight into the daily life needs of rural-dwelling, veteran, dementia dyads for care providers and policy makers. Taking a visual approach to qualitative needs assessment and rural care may assist in the development of tailored dementia caregiving interventions from integrated medical systems, such as the Veterans Health Administration.