Elderly couple holding hands surrounded by floating memories

Strengthening Bonds: How Couple-Based Therapy Can Aid Alzheimer's Patients and Caregivers

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A look into a Korean study on couple-based intervention for managing mild Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing improved communication and shared emotional experiences."

As the global population ages, the number of individuals living with dementia continues to rise, posing significant challenges for families and healthcare systems alike. In Korea, where the aging population is rapidly increasing, the prevalence of dementia has become a major concern. The traditional family structure, where care is primarily provided by family members, is under increasing strain, especially for spousal caregivers.

Spousal caregivers often face immense emotional, physical, and financial burdens. They are more prone to depression, reduced psychological well-being, and strained relationship quality. This situation calls for innovative interventions that address the unique needs of both individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, fostering stronger connections and improving overall quality of life.

Recognizing this urgent need, researchers have begun exploring couple-based interventions, which aim to enhance communication, shared identity, and emotional support within the couple. One such intervention is the Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA), a structured life-review program designed to help couples reflect on their shared history, strengthen their bond, and develop better coping strategies. A recent study examined the effectiveness of a Korean adaptation of CLSA (CLSA-K) for couples dealing with mild Alzheimer's disease, revealing promising insights into its potential benefits and areas for improvement.

The Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K): A Beacon of Hope?

Elderly couple holding hands surrounded by floating memories

The Korean study evaluated the effectiveness of CLSA-K, a five-week program involving 50 couples where one partner had mild Alzheimer's disease. This research sought to determine if CLSA-K could enhance relationship quality and reduce caregiver burden.

The study collected data on several psychosocial outcomes, including depressive symptoms, talkativeness, mutuality, and caregiver burden, both before and after the intervention. Using repeated measures and generalized linear models, the researchers analyzed the data to identify significant changes and patterns based on factors such as age, gender, and cognitive impairment.

Enhanced Communication: CLSA-K focuses on improving communication skills by encouraging active listening, giving compliments, and using photos to stimulate memory.
Shared Reflection: Couples reflect on their lives together, from early marriage to the present, reinforcing their shared identity.
Culturally Adapted: The CLSA-K program was specifically adapted for Korean couples, considering cultural norms and values.

While some participants experienced notable benefits, the results were mixed. Caregivers with spouses who had moderate cognitive impairment reported increased burden, while younger and male care recipients showed increased talkativeness. Overall, the intervention showed promise for specific subgroups, highlighting the importance of tailoring interventions to meet individual needs and cultural contexts.

Looking Ahead: Refining Couple-Based Interventions

The study's mixed results underscore the complexity of dementia care and the need for more tailored interventions. Future research should focus on identifying specific factors that influence the success of couple-based approaches and adapting interventions to better suit diverse cultural backgrounds and individual needs. Multi-component interventions that combine education, life review, and skills training may offer a more comprehensive solution for couples facing the challenges of Alzheimer's disease.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/1471301218811547, Alternate LINK

Title: The Effectiveness Of A Couple-Based Intervention For People Living With Mild Alzheimer’S Disease And Their Spousal Caregivers In Korea

Subject: General Social Sciences

Journal: Dementia

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Jung-Hwa Ha, Minyoung Kwak, Ji Won Han, Hyeon Jung Lee, Berit Ingersoll-Dayton, Beth Spencer, Ki Woong Kim

Published: 2018-11-23

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K)?

The Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K) is a structured life-review program designed to help couples, where one partner has mild Alzheimer's disease, reflect on their shared history, strengthen their bond, and develop better coping strategies. It involves a five-week program that focuses on enhancing communication skills, shared reflection on their lives, and is culturally adapted for Korean couples. The aim is to improve relationship quality and reduce the burden on caregivers.

Why are couple-based interventions significant in the context of Alzheimer's disease?

Couple-based interventions are important because they address the unique challenges faced by both individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The traditional family structure, especially in places like Korea, places a significant burden on spousal caregivers. These caregivers often experience emotional, physical, and financial strain, which can lead to depression and reduced relationship quality. By focusing on couples, interventions like the Couples Life Story Approach aim to improve communication, foster emotional support, and strengthen relationships, thus improving overall quality of life.

What did the Korean study evaluate?

The study examined the Korean adaptation of the Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K). The study assessed the effectiveness of the CLSA-K program on relationship quality and caregiver burden. They gathered data on various psychosocial outcomes, including depressive symptoms, talkativeness, mutuality, and caregiver burden. The findings were analyzed to identify patterns based on factors like age, gender, and cognitive impairment. The study aimed to determine if the CLSA-K could enhance relationship quality and reduce the burden on caregivers.

How does the Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K) work?

Enhanced communication in the Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K) focuses on improving interactions through active listening, giving compliments, and using photos to stimulate memory. Shared reflection encourages couples to reminisce about their lives together, from early marriage to the present, to reinforce their shared identity. The CLSA-K program was culturally adapted for Korean couples, acknowledging cultural norms and values to make the intervention more relevant and effective for participants.

What are the implications of the study's mixed results and what should be done next?

The implications of the study's mixed results highlight the complexity of dementia care. While some participants experienced benefits from the Couples Life Story Approach (CLSA-K), the study showed that caregiver burden increased for those with spouses with moderate cognitive impairment. Future research should focus on tailoring interventions based on individual needs and cultural contexts. Multi-component approaches that combine education, life review, and skills training may provide a more comprehensive solution for couples dealing with Alzheimer's disease. The results emphasize the need for personalized and culturally sensitive interventions in the future.