To describe commonalities of the lived experience of being a
spouse caregiver of a person with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Design and Methods: The Colaizzi method of empirical phenomenology was used for
interviewing and analyzing data obtained from 10 spouse caregivers of persons with
MCI.
Results: Four major themes were found and labeled: (a) Putting the Puzzle Pieces
Together-There Really is Something Wrong; (b) A Downward Spiral into a World of
Silence; (c) Consequences to Caregivers of Living in a World of Silence; (d) Taking
Charge of Care.
Implications: The findings of this study provided data rich in implications for
interventions to help caregivers to gain awareness, information, and skills to more
effectively deal with and adjust to the caregiving of their spouse with MCI over the
long-term.
Keywords: Caregiver perspectives, caregiving issues, mild cognitive impairment,
stress and coping.