|Target of the intervention||Intervention components (topics and sections)||Qualitative data||Key theoretical themes||Systematic review|
|Feeling prepared and equipped||What can I expect towards the end of life? (Fig. 3)||Caregivers reported a lack of information particularly about end of life care. Caregivers discussed a desire and need to feel prepared. There was a need to feel more confident and knowledgeable about how to manage the medical decline.||• Ensure timely availability of key external resources||
Individualised information was considered more beneficial by caregivers and thought to be one of the most useful components of interventions.|
The section was developed to be engaging through the use of a video from a caregiver which families could relate to and creating a sense of peer support which was highlighted as important in the systematic review.
|Day to day caring (Fig. 4)|
|Planning (Fig. 5)|
|Feeling connected and supported||Chat to a caregiver (Fig. 6)||Participants described caring as a lonely experience in which they often felt socially isolated, and wanted to feel both connected and supported by other caregivers and professionals.||• Extending social assets||
Support was able to be provided online though peer interaction and contact with professionals. Opportunities to engage with other caregivers in the same situation as them and in a group situation appeared more beneficial.|
Interaction with professionals was a positive experience for caregivers, however views were mixed on receiving this online.
|Talk to a professional (Fig. 7)|
|Communicating with the person with dementia (Fig. 8)|
|Valuing themselves as a caregiver and an individual||Chat to a caregiver (Fig. 6)||In the interviews participants appeared to describe an internal conflict about caring for themselves and maintaining their own life, whilst caring. They needed mechanisms to cope with their emotions including; anger, grief and guilt.||
• Strengthen key psychological resources available to caregiver;|
• Maintaining caregiver’s physical health status;
• Safeguard caregiver’s quality of life
Several previous interventions included measures around the health and wellbeing of caregivers.|
Many interventions used psychological support, which demonstrated the most positive effect. Many used self-guided psychological support, most often consisting of educational modules. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) found significantly greater improvements in stress, self-efficacy, intention to get support, strain, depression, and anxiety.
|Looking after yourself (Fig. 9)|
|Preparing for death (Fig. 10)|
|Maintaining control of the caring situation being the co-ordinator care||Financial information (Fig. 11)||Caregivers felt they needed to take control and manage the care. Interspersed among these discussions was a lack of support from other family members and a lack of understanding from existing friends.||
• Ensuring timely availability of key resources|
• Extending social networks
Several interventions identified provided local and tailored support or signposting of services, which was well received by caregivers.|
The internet resources may be a method of preparation for discussions, but decisions should be made face to face.
|Local support (Fig. 12)|
|Family relationships and social networks (Fig. 13)|