Project Details
Description
It has been estimated that more than 333,000 people aged over 60 will be suffering from
dementia in 2039 in Hong Kong. Dementia-related care needs are multicomplex,
consisting of cognitive symptom management, general health care, daily activities, and
personal safety. Historically, caregiving research has predominantly focused on the
dyadic relationship between the primary caregiver and care recipient. However, a dyadic
care approach limits the utilization of care from broader social contexts, failing to meet
the comprehensive needs of older people with dementia (PWD). It is proposed that
research on dementia care should be expanded to a broader care network perspective,
enhancing care capacity and fostering collaboration among potential caregivers.
In this study, care network refers to a system where caregiving responsibilities are
distributed among multiple caregivers, comprising family members, non-family
members, and paid carers. This study aims to answer the following questions: (a) What
are the structural patterns (i.e., configuration) and functional mechanisms (i.e.,
caregiving activities) of care networks for PWD? And how do the dynamics of care
networks for PWD change over time? (b) To what extent do individual attributes of care
recipients and caregivers influence the structural and functional characteristics of these
care networks? (c) How can care capacity for PWD be enhanced through coordination
and collaboration among different care providers within care networks? (d) How do the
care networks affect the care outcomes and quality of life for PWD, as well as the
caregiving burden and stress experienced by caregivers?
Social network analysis (SNA) is a robust approach to investigates the patterns of
relations among social actors across various levels of analysis. It enables researchers to
identify structural patterns and functional mechanisms that traditional dyadic models
may overlook. This study adopts a longitudinal mixed-methods design including both
quantitative and qualitative SNA. The quantitative SNA will involve a two-wave
network survey administered to 390 participants with a six-month interval. This survey
will visually map and analyze the interconnections among multiple caregivers and PWD,
capturing changes in networks over time. Qualitative SNA will be conducted through indepth interviews among 40 participants to capture an insider perspective of the care
networks. The qualitative interviews aim to elucidate the nuanced meanings of
caregiving relationships and the mechanisms underpinning the construction of care
networks. By integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods, this mixed-methods SNA will provide a more complete picture of care networks.
dementia in 2039 in Hong Kong. Dementia-related care needs are multicomplex,
consisting of cognitive symptom management, general health care, daily activities, and
personal safety. Historically, caregiving research has predominantly focused on the
dyadic relationship between the primary caregiver and care recipient. However, a dyadic
care approach limits the utilization of care from broader social contexts, failing to meet
the comprehensive needs of older people with dementia (PWD). It is proposed that
research on dementia care should be expanded to a broader care network perspective,
enhancing care capacity and fostering collaboration among potential caregivers.
In this study, care network refers to a system where caregiving responsibilities are
distributed among multiple caregivers, comprising family members, non-family
members, and paid carers. This study aims to answer the following questions: (a) What
are the structural patterns (i.e., configuration) and functional mechanisms (i.e.,
caregiving activities) of care networks for PWD? And how do the dynamics of care
networks for PWD change over time? (b) To what extent do individual attributes of care
recipients and caregivers influence the structural and functional characteristics of these
care networks? (c) How can care capacity for PWD be enhanced through coordination
and collaboration among different care providers within care networks? (d) How do the
care networks affect the care outcomes and quality of life for PWD, as well as the
caregiving burden and stress experienced by caregivers?
Social network analysis (SNA) is a robust approach to investigates the patterns of
relations among social actors across various levels of analysis. It enables researchers to
identify structural patterns and functional mechanisms that traditional dyadic models
may overlook. This study adopts a longitudinal mixed-methods design including both
quantitative and qualitative SNA. The quantitative SNA will involve a two-wave
network survey administered to 390 participants with a six-month interval. This survey
will visually map and analyze the interconnections among multiple caregivers and PWD,
capturing changes in networks over time. Qualitative SNA will be conducted through indepth interviews among 40 participants to capture an insider perspective of the care
networks. The qualitative interviews aim to elucidate the nuanced meanings of
caregiving relationships and the mechanisms underpinning the construction of care
networks. By integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods, this mixed-methods SNA will provide a more complete picture of care networks.
Status | Not started |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 1/01/26 → 31/12/28 |
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.