Table 1 Contents of the mindfulness-based Dementia Caregiving Program
Week | Teaching mode | Main theme | Contents (90Â min per session) | Home practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Face-to-Face | Caregiving stress and automatic pilot | Establishing the orientation of the class The raisin exercise (eating meditation) 13-min body scan Reaction to stress | 45-min body scan for 6 out of 7Â days Mindfulness of a routine practice |
2 | Face-to-Face | Thoughts and feelings | Exercises on thoughts and feelings related to dementia caregiving Mindful stretching and breath meditation Mindful movements 3-min breathing space | 10Â min of mindful breathing for 6 out of 7Â days Pleasant experience calendar (one example daily) Mindfulness of a routine practice |
3 | Online | Facing difficulty with mindfulness | Exercises focusing on unpleasant caregiving experiences Practising seeing and hearing Sitting meditation (awareness of breath and body, and of responses to painful sensations) | 40Â min of mindful movements or stretching and breathing meditation for 6 out of 7Â days Unpleasant experience calendar (a different experience for each day) 3-min breathing space, 3 times daily |
4 | Online | Mindful communication and responses | Practising seeing and hearing Mindful communication with people with dementia 3-min breathing space Responding to the behaviour of the care-recipient | Sitting meditation, 6 out of 7 days 3-min breathing space (3 times a day) 3-min breathing space – responsive (whenever one notices unpleasant feelings) |
5 | Online | Thoughts are not facts | Sitting meditation Exercises on thoughts and alternative viewpoints 3-min breathing space (responsive) Identifying habitual emotional reactions to difficulties resulting from caregiving | Select a guided meditation to practise at least 40 min per day 3-min breathing space (3 times a day) 3-min breathing space – added instructions (whenever one notices unpleasant feelings) |
6 | Face-to-Face | Taking care of yourself | Sitting meditation with breath, body, sounds Exploring difficulties in mindfulness Exercise on looking forward and preparing for the future | 3-min breathing space (3 times a day) Select from all different forms of practice and apply them on a regular basis Develop actions to be used in the face of low moods |