Support groups for carers of a person with dementia who lives at home: A focused ethnographic study.

By sharing positive experiences, carers have increased self-esteem and feelings of togetherness, which can have a positive impact on their motivation to continue caring. Positive peer interaction encouraged a shift in focus from negative to positive experiences, resulting in an improvement in carer well-being. Joint group participation prevented conflicts in families. To protect the care receivers, carers kept support group participation a secret. Healthcare professionals could improve carer well-being by focusing on positive caring experiences in support groups.