Moving through intergenerational trauma: Factors that facilitate providing dementia care to perpetrating mothers

Abstract Caring for aging parents has largely become a normative societal expectation. However, approximately 25% of children experience neglect or abuse in their lifetime with reports suggesting that 89% of survivors are maltreated by one or both parents. Despite some available literature, little attention has been given to how daughters who have experienced childhood maltreatment at the hands of their mother go on to provide them dementia care. As the incidence of dementia continues to rise, a growing number of individuals with dementia will be cared for by those they once maltreated. Accordingly, it is imperative to understand the nuances of how this population navigates dementia care. Data for this analysis were drawn from the Aging at Home Alone study, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded protocol that focused on the experiences of community‐dwelling live‐alone persons with dementia and their collaterals ( N = 96). Analyses were conducted on the subsample of adult daughters who were maltreated by their mothers during childhood and subsequently provided them dementia care ( n = 7). Using content analysis, 251 pages of narrative data were analyzed to examine the intricacies of how this distinct population provided dementia care to their mothers. Despite exposure to maltreatment during childhood, each daughter provided their mother stable and non‐volatile dementia care. Analyses indicated daughters provided care to their perpetrating mothers by (a) setting boundaries, (b) utilizing peripheral resources, (c) acknowledging the childhood trauma, and (d) participating in self‐care activities. Often overlooked in the literature is acknowledgment that not all familial relationships are positive as many caregiver‐care recipient relationships are characterized by past trauma. This study is one of the first to address the nuances of caring for a mother with dementia who mistreated them during their childhood. Findings demonstrate difficulties providing support but show that stable dementia care is possible. Understanding unique caregiving relationships can inform policies that promote trauma‐informed care practices, ensuring that both caregivers and care‐recipients receive compassionate, effective support.