Storytelling in family-provided care - developing diversity-sensitive stories for family caregivers of Turkish individuals living with dementia.

BACKGROUND

Family caregivers play a crucial role in care for individuals with dementia, particularly in migrant communities such as families of Turkish descent in Germany. However, caregivers often experience high levels of stress due to cultural expectations, family dynamics, and limited access to support services. Traditional self-help approaches frequently fail to address their diverse needs, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance self-management skills and emotional resilience. Storytelling, a method that facilitates knowledge transfer and emotional expression through narratives, has the potential to empower caregivers by fostering empathy, self-reflection, and problem-solving skills. This study aims to develop and evaluate storytelling interventions that are culturally and linguistically tailored to support Turkish family caregivers in managing caregiving challenges more effectively.

METHODS

A multi-stage methodological approach was used to develop a diversity-sensitive storytelling intervention for Turkish family caregivers of individuals with dementia. The process included a comprehensive needs assessment through a literature review and qualitative secondary data analysis of interviews. Based on these insights, different caregiver personas were identified, each representing different challenges and caregiving roles. Stories were then developed following principles of effective storytelling, incorporating key themes such as stress management, family conflict resolution, and cultural expectations. A quality assessment was conducted using a pretest with caregivers, applying the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach to refine narratives based on clarity, accessibility, and relatability.

RESULTS

The study resulted in the creation of nine storytelling packs, each containing five stories tailored to specific caregiver personas. These narratives were developed in German and translated into Turkish and English to ensure linguistic and cultural accessibility. Pretests indicated that the stories resonated with caregivers, addressing their unique caregiving realities while fostering engagement and perceived emotional support. Feedback led to refinements in language style and narrative structure, ensuring greater clarity and identification with the protagonists.

CONCLUSION

Storytelling shows promise as a supportive intervention for Turkish family caregivers of individuals with dementia by fostering self-management skills and reducing emotional burden. The developed stories provide an inclusive, diversity sensitive approach to addressing caregivers’ challenges, promoting self-reflection, and enhancing support networks. Future research should explore the long-term impact of storytelling interventions and their integration into caregiver support programs to improve well-being and caregiving outcomes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-025-03712-7.