Background: Enhancing quality of life is a central aim of psychosocial interventions for people living with dementia and their relatives or caregivers. Person-centred approaches that acknowledge individuality and promote respect and dignity are widely regarded as essential to achieving this goal for both groups. From a bio-psycho-social perspective, living with a neurodegenerative condition is shaped not only by individual factors but also by close relationships and the broader social environment. Accordingly, interventions may target the person with dementia, the caregiver, or the dyad, often with the aim of fostering resilient relationships. Despite this, limited research has directly compared how people living with dementia and relatives or caregivers perceive core concepts underlying support structures, including quality of life, therapeutic interventions, and agency/equity.
Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted between May and December 2025, involving people living with dementia (N = 7) and relatives/caregivers (N = 14). 66% of participants are female, most directly or indirectly affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. Eight participants are caring for their spouse, five for their parent and one for a friend. Focus groups were conducted separately for people living with dementia and for relatives/caregivers. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, with inductive coding applied within each thematic area. Separate coding frameworks were developed for each group and subsequently compared.
Results: This contribution highlights key similarities and differences between people living with dementia and relatives/caregivers across the fundamental themes of quality of life, therapeutic interventions, and agency/equity.
Conclusion: The findings enhance understanding of converging and diverging perspectives between people living with dementia and those who care for them. This knowledge can support practitioners and researchers in developing and delivering services that are more attuned to the nuanced needs and priorities of both groups.