Date of Award

Spring 4-7-2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Michelle K. Ullery

Second Advisor

Sue Cutshall

Third Advisor

Michelle Higgins

Abstract

Abstract

Caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease places significant emotional, physical, financial, and psychological burden on caregivers. Alzheimer’s disease is leading to an increase in family members becoming informal caregivers for their loved ones living with this disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2022), 66% of caregivers for people with dementia live in their homes with them. This scholarly project, through a literature review and qualitative data collection, explored the lived experiences of informal caregivers leading to feelings of stress. Mindfulness meditation provides proven benefits to stress management. Margaret Newman’s theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness lays the foundation for this scholarly project. A three-session mindfulness meditation program was developed and implemented at an established support group for informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia. Each session focused on providing education on mindfulness meditation and the benefits, as well as performing guided meditation practices and applying deep breathing exercises. Participating informal caregivers responded with improved knowledge of mindfulness meditation and reduced stress levels through quantitative data and survey results. Mindfulness meditation provides an affordable and accessible opportunity for stress management for informal caregivers and their enhanced well-being, ultimately leading to improved care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, informal caregivers, stress, mindfulness meditation

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2025.Miller.S.R.

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