재가 치매노인 배우자의 돌봄 체험에 관한 해석학적 현상학 연구

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to understand and describe the caring experiences of spouses of elderly people with dementia.

Methods: The hermeneuticphenomenological method was used and participants were 12 spouses aged 65 and over who were taking care of their husbands or wiveswith dementia at home. Data were collected from individual in-depth interviews on participants’ actual caring experiences. Additionally, novels,movies, and memoirs on elderly couples with partner who had dementia were included as data for the analysis. The qualitative data analysis softwareprogram was used to manage and process the collected qualitative data. Data were analyzed using hermeneutic phenomenological analysisbased on four fundamental existentials including lived body, lived space, lived time, and lived others.

Results: Five essential themes emergedfrom the analysis: 1) body moving like an old machine, 2) swamp of despair filling with hope, 3) sweet time after bitterness, 4) disappointed elderlycouple in the empty nest, and 5) unappreciation vs. empathetic feelings. These essential themes were comprehensively summarized as “theroad leading to the maturation of life with dedication and hope while bearing the weight of caring based on the couple’s relationship.”

Conclusion:The findings indicate that the nature of the caring experience of spouses of elderly individuals with dementia is filled with many dynamicand paradoxical dimensions. Thus, results of the study would help with developing interventions tailored specifically for elderly spouse caregiversto support their role adaptation and ultimately improving their quality of life.