Alpass, F., Pond, R., Stephens, C., Stevenson, B., Keeling, S., & Towers, A. (2013). The influence of ethnicity and gender on caregiver health in older New Zealanders. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68(5), 783–793.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This study examined the interrelationships between ethnicity, gender, and caregiving on the health of older New Zealanders. A representative sample of 2,155 participants from the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement study completed postal surveys at two times.  The poorer health of caregivers supports previous findings on the detrimental health effects of caregiving. Caregiving may have more detrimental effects on Māori health outcomes.
Keywords:
caregiving, cultural factors, gender, health outcomes, Māori, Maori, caregivers, care-partners
Link
Burholt, V., Orton, Y., Awatere, S. A., & Daltrey, J. F. (2025). A ‘personhood paradox’: Care partners’ experiences supporting people with dementia and incontinence. Dementia, 14713012251329545. 
Type:
Research article
Description:
This study of 18 New Zealand caregivers found that caring for someone with dementia and incontinence creates significant physical and emotional challenges, with caregivers struggling to access adequate healthcare support while trying to maintain their loved one's dignity and their own well-being.. 
Keywords:
continence, incontinence, personhood
Link
Chan, C.Y., Cheung, G., Martinez-Ruiz, A. et al. (2021). Caregiving burnout of community-dwelling people with dementia in Hong Kong and New Zealand: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 21, 261. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02153-6
Type:
Research article
Description:
Gary Cheung and a group of international researchers use InterRAI data to explore the prevalence and contributing factors of burnout amongst those supporting a person living with dementia in New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Keywords:
caregivers, care partners, carers, burnout, stress
LINK
de Vries, K., Drury-Ruddlesden, J., & Gaul, C. (2019). ‘And so I took up residence’: The experiences of family members of people with dementia during admission to an acute hospital unit. Dementia, 18(1), 36-54.
Type:
Research article
Description:
In this article, we present the results of analysis of interviews with 26 family members of people with dementia about their experiences of supporting an admission of a person with dementia to an acute hospital unit in New Zealand. For all family members, the desire to support the person with dementia during their admission was at the forefront and was their primary focus
Keywords:
dementia, acute hospital, family members, dignity, neglect
Link
Dulin, P. L., & Dominy, J. B. (2008). The influence of feeling positive about helping among dementia caregivers in New Zealand: helping attitudes predict happiness. Dementia, 7(1), 55-69.
Type:
Research article
Description:
The primary purpose of this study was to examine the unique contribution of positive attitudes about helping others in predicting emotional functioning among a sample of dementia caregivers. Participants were 158 older (M = 68 years) caregivers residing in New Zealand. This study indicates that having a positive attitude towards helping others may be an important determinant of positive emotional functioning among dementia caregivers and may help to offset the oft-cited negative consequences of caregiving.
Keywords:
caregivers, care partners, carers, stress, burden, attitude, positive
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Fekete, M., Szabo, A., Stephens, C., & Alpass, F. (2019). Older New Zealanders in caregiving roles: Psychological functioning of caregivers of people living with dementia. Dementia, 18(5), 1663-1678.
Type:
Research article
Description:
The present study aimed to identify different patterns of psychological functioning and their correlates among caregivers of dementia patients. The sample included 336 older caregivers. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles. The optimally functioning profile was characterized by high levels of positive outcomes and low levels of depression. Those with a suboptimally functioning profile reported low levels of positive outcomes and increased depression symptoms. The poorly functioning profile displayed extremely high levels of depression symptoms and extremely low levels of positive outcomes. Results suggest that caregiving is not necessarily a burdensome role and highlight the role of social relationships.
Keywords:
caregivers, care partners, carers, stress, burden, social support, positive
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Gibson, R., & Gander, P. (2020). Factors associated with the sleep of carers: A survey of New Zealanders supporting a family member with cognitive impairment or dementia. Dementia, 1471301220915071.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This postal survey asked about the sleep of 526 family carers  supporting a family member with cognitive impairment or dementia. 23.5% of carers scored in the moderate–severe range and 43.0% in the mild range for sleep disturbance. Independent predictors for carers’ reporting greater sleep disturbance included being female, caregiving at night, poorer self-rated health, and the care recipient having more disturbed sleep. Moderate–severe sleep disturbance was independently associated with poorer self-rated health and living standards, use of sleeping medications, as well as considering transitioning their family member into formal care within the year. . 
Keywords:
caregivers, care partners, carers, sleep
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Hale, L., Jenkins, M., Mayland, B., Buttery, Y., Norris, P., Butler, M., . . . Kayes, N. (2021). Living with dementia: The felt worth of support workers. Ageing and Society, 41(7), 1453-1473. doi:10.1017/S0144686X19001636
Type:
Research article
Description:
Leigh Hale and colleagues talked to support workers working with people living with dementia to help understand what makes them feel valued.
Keywords:
support worker, care-giving, dementia
 
Link
Horrell, B., Breheny, M., & Stephens, C. (2020). Using Nussbaum’s central capabilities to understand caring for older people in New Zealand. International Journal of Care and Caring.
Type:
Research article
Description:
The capability approach and Nussbaum’s list of essential capabilities were used as a template to analyse contributions to an online forum created for the research. The carers’ posts indicated they valued these capabilities, though, in some instances, struggled to achieve them in the context of providing care. 
Keywords:
caregivers, care partners, carers, capability
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Kirkman, A. (2011). Caring 'from duty and the heart': Gendered work and Alzheimer's disease. Women's Studies Journal, 25(1), 2-16.
Type:
Research article
Description:
Caring for people with dementia remains gendered with women still expected to undertake much of the paid and unpaid caring work in the community. This study draws on survey and interview data collected from 48 women community workers in Alzheimers Societies throughout New Zealand. Through the lens of the women community workers the gendered expectations about paid and unpaid work are revealed. 
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, gender, caring, paid and unpaid work
Link

Gibson, R., Helm, A., Breheny, M., & Gander, P. (2021). “My quiet times”: Themes of sleep health among people caring for a family member with dementia. Dementia, 20(6), 2024–2040. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301220980247

Type:
Research article
Description:
Carers of people living with dementia are balancing tensions between needing sleep and meeting their responsibilities in a survey by Rosie Gibson and colleagues.
Keywords:
caregiving, dementia, health, sleep
Link
Malthus, K., & Tranter, S. (2018). Supporting family carers of people with dementia. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 24(10), 14-16.
Type:
Review article
Description:
This summary of review findings explores some of the ways nurses can support carers of people with dementia to promote positive health outcomes. 
Keywords:
caregivers, care partners, carers, stress, burden
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Roud, H., Keeling, S., & Sainsbury, R. (2006). Using the COPE assessment tool with informal carers of people with dementia in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 119(1237), 1-12.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This study evaluated the validity of the COPE index (CI) carer assessment tool and found it COPE improved both communication and understanding of carers’ needs and was evaluated positively by most carers and health practitioners. 
Keywords:
COPE, COPE index, caregivers, burden, stress, care partners
Link
Robertson, K., Thyne, M., Thomson, R., & Watkins, L. (2025). The impact of social isolation and loneliness on the well-being of carers of a person with dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand. Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1177_14713012241279683
Type:
Thesis
Description:
Using data from the New Zealand Lifestyles Survey, Kirsten Robertson and colleagues found that caregivers of a person with dementia were more likely than noncaregivers to experience loneliness, but not social isolation. Both loneliness and isolation were linked to overall well-being.
Keywords:
caregivers, loneliness 
LINK
Tagatanu'u, M.F. (2023). Behind closed doors: Using talanoa to understand the experiences of Samoan caregivers taking care of loved ones with dementia. University of Auckland Masters Thesis
Type:
Thesis
Description:
This research aims to explore and seek a better understanding of the experiences of Samoan caregivers of loved ones with dementia within the Auckland region. This study explored the knowledge and awareness of dementia at an individual level, the Samoan understandings of care, the knowledge and awareness of support services, service utilisation and engagement, and recommendations to enhance current processes and services in place
Keywords:
caregivers, pasifika, auckland, 
LINK