Stress and Coping: Conceptual Models for Understanding Dementia Among Latinos

Since the late 1990s, family caregiving theories have contributed significantly to improve our understanding of the dynamic and diverse experiences of caregivers. Some theories have been translated into best practices to deliver a broad range of programs for family caregivers. However, researchers still have not been able to translate most of these theories into interventions for low-income and culturally diverse caregivers. This chapter highlights current knowledge, research, and practice available and, for the most part, based on stress and coping conceptual models, for Latino older adults with dementia and their family caregivers. More specifically, we discuss how existing support services for Latino caregivers are able to address multiple threats associated with their experience of dementia, their cultural family context, and the everyday challenges associated with their low-income status and limited available resources. Several salient theoretical frameworks and innovative efforts that led to development of evidence-based knowledge are examined along with interventions to meet the needs of Latino family dementia caregivers.