J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2023 Mar;32(1):67-77. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2023.32.1.67.

Illness Experiences of People with Young-onset Dementia

• Ahn S
• Yi Y

• KMID: 2540820
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2023.32.1.67

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the illness experiences of people with young-onset dementia who live in a community.
Methods
Six community-dwelling patients with young-onset dementia, aged 65 or under, were recruited. Data were collected from August 2019 to July 2020 and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.
Results
The data were classified into five themes and eleven sub-themes. The following themes emerged: 1) Anguish enough to want to die from dementia symptoms that hit the prime of one's life; 2) Being thrown from middle age to old age; 3) Becoming a burden due to changing roles within the family; 4) Experiencing difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment process due to onset before old age; and 5) Living with young-onset dementia in one's own life.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that people with young-onset dementia have unique experiences associated with middle age Korean traits. Therefore, based on their illness experiences, effective psychosocial nursing interventions tailored to their age should be developed.

Keyword

Dementia; Middle age; Qualitative research; 치매 , 중년 , 질적연구