Abstract

As we age our sleep experiences decline in quality and our sleep disturbances increase with chances of full effective sleep diminishing. Older adults do not sleep as well as younger adults, with many older adults lacking an effective circadian rhythm. This lack of a proper circadian rhythm has been known to affect cognition and cause an increase in memory impairment. For older adults (OA) with Alzheimer’s and related disorders (AD) poor sleep affects not only their memory impairment and cognition but often impacts family caregivers (FGCs) sleep experiences. FCGs of community dwelling OA with AD are faced with a variety of challenges. These family caregiver challenges include physical, emotional, and social stressors which are often affected by a decline in effective sleep experiences. There is a dearth of evidence related to family caregivers sleep experiences. Research is needed to explore sleep problems and sleep strategies to aid in the development of effective and efficient preventative interventions for FCGs of OA with AD.

The purpose of this dissertation study is to understand and describe the sleep experiences of FCGs using Story Theory. Story Theory will be utilized to research FCGs needs related to their sleep experiences. This data may lead to strategies that will improve FCGs sleep and therefore, their quality of life. The participants will be recruited using convenience sampling, using one on one interviews identifying common themes. The results of using Story Theory to explore FCGs sleep experiences can provide data that may lead to sleep interventions.

Author Details

With over 25 years' experience in nursing, Caroline Bollettiero PhD, RN, has dedicated her career to compassionate, person-centered care. Her approach is guided by a deep belief that every individual has a story worth hearing- a philosophy that has shaped her work with patients and their families throughout her decades in healthcare.

Dr. Bollettiero's professional journey has been enriched by her personal experience as a family caregiver for a loved one living with Alzheimer's disease. This intimate understanding of the challenges faced by both patients and caregivers inspired her to become a strong advocate for those affected by Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders.

Through her work, Dr. Bollettiero strives not only to provide skilled medical care but also to ensure that every patient feels seen, heard, and valued. Her ongoing mission is to honor the human experience behind every diagnosis and to empower families with knowledge, empathy and hope.

Sigma Membership

Tau Zeta

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Family Caregiver, Sleep, Alzheimer's Disease, Sleep Disturbances

Advisor

Deborah D. D'Avolio

Second Advisor

Bethany Nasser

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

Endicott College

Degree Year

2023

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2025-11-12

Full Text of Presentation

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