Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Objectives: Providing care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is challenging, given the stressors and uncertainties experienced by persons with dementia and their families, the complexities of assessment and management, and the limited efficacy of available treatments. While some research has looked at the experience of families who care for persons with ADRD, little is known about the experience of primary health care providers. We explored the experiences of health care providers working with persons with dementia. Method: Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were completed with interprofessional team members in two primary care-based memory clinics in Southern Ontario. Health care providers were asked about their experiences working with persons with dementia in a team context. Interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) method of analysis of phenomenological data. Results: Health care providers discussed their motivations for working with persons with dementia, how they came to be part of a memory clinic team, what they valued and found rewarding in their work, and the challenges and frustrations they experienced. Working as part of a team could be challenging but was also a major source of encouragement. Conclusions: Although primary care is playing an increasingly important role in dementia care, future research should examine experiences of health care providers in other settings. A deeper understanding of health care providers' experiences working with persons with dementia yields insights into how these workers and teams can be better prepared and supported to provide care to persons with dementia and their families.