“Let’s just die together, Mom”: Family caregivers’ responses to caring for elderly people with dementia

Rita Hadi Widyastuti, Junaiti Sahar, Etty Rekawati, Aria Kekalih

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Elderly people with dementia are highly dependent on caregivers; they require more assistance and supervision as the disease progresses and its severity increases. Family caregivers have different responses to caring for elderly people with dementia. This study aimed to explore Indonesian family caregivers’ responses to caring for elderly people with dementia. Methods: A qualitative research design was selected for this study. On the basis of semi-structured interviews, a descriptive phenomenological study was conducted among 15 purposively-recruited family caregivers. Results: Three main themes and eight sub-themes emerged from the data. The first theme was family caregivers’ perceptions of dementia. The sub-themes were that dementia is a common disease due to the aging process, and dementia is a disease due to Parkinson’s, stroke, stress, and loneliness. The second theme was the meaning of caring for elderly people with dementia. The sub-themes were that obligation to care for older people with dementia, form of filial piety and the spiritual meaning of caring for older people with dementia. The third theme was the process of acceptance in taking on the role of caregiver to an elderly person with dementia. The sub-themes were that denial, depression, and acceptance. Conclusion: Each of these themes has a cultural and spiritual dimension, and caregivers require professional assistance from health workers that accounts for these dimensions of caregiving. Likewise, it is important to identify depression in family caregivers so that suitable interventions can be provided.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)339-345
Number of pages7
JournalKontakt
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Dementia
  • Elderly people
  • Family caregiver
  • Indonesia
  • Response

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