Measuring dementia caregiving styles to improve person-centered care

Background and Objectives: Approaches to caregiving interventions are often "one-size-fits-all," yet family caregivers for individuals with dementia have unique caregiving styles with which they enact daily care. This study describes the development of CG-STYLE, the first person-centered assessment of caregiving style. Research Design and Methods: Development phases of this measure included mixed-methods exploratory research, iterative item development and refinement, cognitive interviews, expert review, literacy and translatability review, and field testing of the items in 209 family/friend caregivers for an individual with dementia. Item response theory and classical test theory analyses were run. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis affirms the unidimensionality of 7 item banks of the measure: orientation toward the care partner, adaptability, understanding of dementia, emotional expression (positive, negative), and behavioral management (adaptive, maladaptive). Discussion and Implications: A person-centered assessment measure can help tailor services and interventions to best fit unique styles of care, ultimately improving the well-being of the caregiver and the quality of care for the individual with dementia.