Abstract

While family-centered care (FCC) has received increasing attention for its importance in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (AD/RD) care, little is known about AD/RD caregivers’ experiences in interacting with health care providers. To address this issue, this qualitative study involved eighteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews and a focus group with another eighteen AD/RD caregivers in Alabama (USA) to learn about their perceptions on communicating with health care providers. Caregivers were also asked about their perceptions on how information technology (IT) may play a role in facilitating their interactions with providers. The findings indicate that AD/RD caregivers often feel that communication with providers is inadequate and compromises shared decision-making. They reported that the use of IT could facilitate caregiver-provider communication.