Lives In Transition: Caregiving And Bereavement Experiences Among Spousal Dementia Caregivers: A Grounded Theory Study This large scale research project examined caregiving and bereavement adjustment among spousal dementia caregivers. The thesis begins by outlining a range of theoretical models of stress and coping, depression, and anticipatory grief that have been proposed to explain dementia caregiving and bereavement adjustment. This is followed by a critical evaluation of the existing research literature on bereavement outcomes and predictors of caregiving and bereavement adjustment among spousal dementia caregivers. To date, few theoretical models have conceptualised caregiving and bereavement as a single, chronic process. The available evidence suggests that whilst spousal dementia caregivers typically experience a long and exhausting caregiving career, they experience relatively few bereavement adjustment difficulties. This has been attributed to mediating factors such as the end of caregiving strain, anticipatory grief, and social support. However, our knowledge about the process of caregiving and bereavement adjustment among spousal dementia caregivers; and the transitional experiences that underpin such adjustment are poorly described in the literature. The grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Strauss & Corbin, 1990) was employed to investigate the caregiving and bereavement experiences of five participant spousal dementia caregivers. The aim of the study was to develop a theoretical understanding of the process of caregiving and bereavement adjustment. A model incorporating five transitions of participants' caregiving and bereavement experiences is proposed. In each transition a number of key attributes are described. These attributes emerged from analysis of participants' interview data about caregiving and bereavement experiences. A key finding from this study is that two participants reported they were still having difficulty in coming to terms with negative experiences of professional support during caregiving. The overall study findings are discussed in relation to previous research findings regarding dementia caregiving and bereavement adjustment. Finally, the clinical healthcare implications and potential for future research are outlined.