J Korean Acad Nurs.  2014 Feb;44(1):41-54. 10.4040/jkan.2014.44.1.41.

The Experience of Adult Korean Children Caring for Parents Institutionalized with Dementia

• Kwon S
• Tae YS

• KMID: 1730905
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2014.44.1.41

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of adult Korean children who are caregivers for parents institutionalized with dementia.
METHODS
Participants were fourteen adult children caregivers of elders institutionalized with dementia. Data were collected through in-depth unstructured interviews with individual participants from August to November, 2012. Theoretical sampling was used to the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory Method.
RESULTS
From open coding, 67 concepts, 29 sub-categories, and 14 categories were identified. Analysis revealed that the core category of the experience of adult children caring for their parents institutionalized with dementia was 'enduring the role of a prop' consisting of four phases: initial turmoil, exploration, role adjustment, and acclimation. To manage the role of a prop, participants utilized various action/interactional strategies such as overcoming the unfamiliarity, overseeing the nursing home care, and counterbalancing the caring roles. As a result, participants experienced ambivalence towards the existence of parents with dementia, changes in family relationships, altered viewpoint towards nursing homes, and restructuring of life.
CONCLUSION
In-depth understanding of the experience will guide nurses to promote effective interventions in order to better support the Korean family caregivers of parents institutionalized with dementia.

Keyword

Nursing home; Institutionalization; Dementia; Adult children; Family caregivers

MeSH Terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Caregivers/*psychology
Dementia/*nursing
Family Relations
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Middle Aged
Nursing Homes
Parents/psychology
Quality of Life
Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Figure 1 Theoretical framework for enduring the role of a prop.

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