Introduction: Dementia affects not only the individual but also their close relatives. This disease can significantly impact the quality of life, particularly for family members who often take on the role of caregivers. Dealing with various challenges, including physical, psychological, social, and financial difficulties, becomes a part of their daily lives. Family caregivers must constantly adapt their lives and routines, often sacrificing their own needs and desires to provide proper care for the person with dementia. This can lead to burnout, health problems, as well as emotional and financial stress. The role of the nurse is crucial in this context, as the nurse has direct contact with the patient, their family members, and other significant individuals. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to determine the impact of dementia on the quality of life of family members and to explore the role of the nurse in empowering the relatives. Additionally, the thesis aims to define and describe the most common aspects of how dementia affects the lives of family members and to investigate the available support options for family members in Slovenia.Methods: The thesis employs a descriptive research method based on a review of professional literature on dementia and its impact on the quality of life of family members. Literature was searched in English and Slovenian languages across databases such as COBISS.SI, PubMed, and MedNar. The search was conducted from February 2023 to May 2024. The thesis includes 25 freely accessible, review or original articles in full text, published from 2013 to 2024. Results: Family members of people with dementia face various stresses and challenges, ranging from emotional burdens, physical fatigue, financial difficulties to social isolation. In addition to caring for the person with dementia, they often have to balance their own lives with caregiving demands, which can lead to burnout and limitations in their personal lives. However, some family members of people with dementia report positive aspects of caregiving. Nurses play a key role in providing support to the family, offering advice, information, and guidance on available resources. It is important to involve both the person with dementia and their close relatives in the care process. Recognizing signs of distress is crucial to helping family members maintain and improve their quality of life. Discussion and conclusion: Caring for a person with dementia can negatively impact the quality of life of family members. Nurses often report a lack of knowledge regarding the care of individuals with dementia, as well as about the support and assistance available for family members. We find that it is necessary to conduct a detailed study of support programs for family members in Slovenia, and to consider adopting practices from abroad where care and support for individuals with dementia and their relatives are more developed.
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