Hung-Ru Lin

National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan

Abstract Title: Experiences and care needs of male family caregivers of older adults with dementia: A qualitative study

Biography: Hung-Ru Lin completed her Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the USA. She is currently a distinguished professor and the Dean of the College of Nursing at the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences (NTUNHS). Dr. Lin has served as the Director of the School of Nursing, the Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Director of the Institutional Research Office at NTUNHS. She has published more than 60 articles in esteemed journals, particularly focusing on elderly care, oncology care, and palliative care. Additionally, she serves on the editorial board of several scholarly journals.

Research Interest: As social dynamics evolve, men are increasingly assuming caregiving roles. However, most research on caregiving has focused primarily on women, with limited attention given to the needs of male family caregivers of older adults with dementia. This study aimed to explore the experiences and care needs of male caregivers in this context. A qualitative design, featuring in-depth interviews and purposive sampling, was employed. Content analysis of interviews with 12 participants revealed five key themes: (1) difficulties in providing care, (2) challenges in seeking help, (3) experiencing multiple sources of distress, (4) struggling with treatment decisions, and (5) a loss of autonomy in life. Many participants noted that older adults with dementia often have additional complex medical conditions, which increase the likelihood of requiring medical treatment or hospitalization, thereby further exhausting caregivers. Participants also described experiencing care-related distress, particularly when the caregiver's gender differed from that of the care recipient. Male caregivers, in particular, faced challenges with personal care tasks such as body cleaning and toileting assistance. These challenges were even more difficult to navigate when the person being cared for was their mother, as psychological barriers added to the strain. Male caregivers expressed difficulty in seeking help and accessing long-term care resources. Under significant emotional and physical pressure, caregivers often found it challenging to maintain control of their emotions. Additionally, participants indicated feeling considerable pressure when making medical decisions for individuals with dementia. Furthermore, the caregiving process severely restricted participants' ability to manage their personal time. Despite these many challenges, participants also expressed clear expectations for care support. These needs included (1) access to health information, (2) emotional support, (3) caregiving tips, and (4) assistance with accessing resources.