TY - JOUR
T1 - “Let’s just die together, Mom”
T2 - Family caregivers’ responses to caring for elderly people with dementia
AU - Widyastuti, Rita Hadi
AU - Sahar, Junaiti
AU - Rekawati, Etty
AU - Kekalih, Aria
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Dementia
KW - Elderly people
KW - Family caregiver
KW - Indonesia
KW - Response
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180873084&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.32725/kont.2023.039
DO - 10.32725/kont.2023.039
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85180873084
SN - 1212-4117
VL - 25
SP - 339
EP - 345
JO - Kontakt
JF - Kontakt
IS - 4
ER -