Addressing Family Caregivers’ Challenges Related to Nutrition and Diet Modification: A Qualitative Exploration to Inform Structured Nutrition-Related Caregiver Training Services

OBJECTIVE: To examine nutrition-related responsibilities, challenges, and preferences for a nutrition-related training program among family caregivers supporting older adults with diet-related chronic conditions. METHODS: We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 24 caregivers of older adults. We conducted a content analysis to summarize challenges and preferences. RESULTS: Caregivers reported various challenges, such as limited foundational nutrition knowledge, financial concerns related to food purchasing, and managing food refusal. Caregivers expressed the need for a structured nutrition training program, prioritizing content areas such as condition-specific nutrition guidance, meal planning, cooking skills and food demonstrations, communication strategies, and behavior/lifestyle modification. Caregivers also expressed a preference for culturally relevant nutrition training to support dietary modification. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Family caregivers face significant challenges in managing their older relatives' dietary modifications. A structured nutrition training program for caregivers could improve knowledge and self-efficacy in managing their relative's health as well as their own health.