The numbers of transplant surgeries continue to rise in the U.S. This results in a greater number of caregivers who are present in the recipients' lives. Most often these caregivers are spouses. Transplant spouses present with emotional needs, which have been expressed in this study. Nurses, especially those who work with the spouses of transplant candidates and recipients, could be appreciative of the requirements that have been told by these spouses. Six women and two men were interviewed for this study. Their stories were analyzed using a phenomenological approach and five themes emerged from the data. The themes that surfaced included uncertainty, support, thankfulness and a positive approach, intimacy and the relationship as a couple, and guilt. Two general structures then evolved from these themes to include adaptation and belief in self and others. The general structures revealed the ways the spouses learned to live during the transplant journey. / by Jo Anne Stecher. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and results in behavioral changes and lack of communication. Family members and caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease can assume added responsibilities and stress due to the progressive and degenerative component of this disability and places an added strain on the family system. This study was designed to examine predictors of quality of life of persons living with AD and to examine caregiver burden and predictors of quality of life of persons living with AD. This study hopes to empower the caregivers and test the resiliency model of family stress, sense of coherence and social support while incorporating individual patient and family needs by surveying caregivers involved with working with patients with AD. Specific aims of the study include validating relationships of the resiliency model while determining the importance of family resiliency, the sense of coherence, social support and the role of psychosocial interventions specifically Validation Communication Intervention (VCI), to reduce caregiver burden and to predict the quality of life in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection