2001 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 108-114
Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find the caregivers' cognitions when the elderly with dementia receive medical treatment, and to discuss the different and common cognitions of caregivers of the elderly with Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) and vascular dementia (VD). Methods : The subjects were 8 caregivers who currently attend medical institutions. They were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. All interviews were transcribed, and analyzed using the qualitative method Results : Nine phases were found in the cognitions of caregivers of the elderly with ATD and with VD. 1) Difficulty in having the cared received medical treatment. 2) Purposes to receive medical treatment. 3) Medical plans made by the doctors. 4) Accompanying to hospitals. 5) Evaluation of experiences in hospitalization. 6) Dealing with acute symptoms. 7) Doctors' attitudes toward the family. 8) The families' questions and needs to doctors. 9) Significance of consulting Centers for Senile Dementia. Of these 9 phases, some different and common characteristics between caregivers of ATD and VD were found. The major differences were firstly in the difficulty in attending hospitals. The ATD caregivers had recognized difficulty in dealing with the cared at medical institutions, while VD caregivers had recognized difficulty in preparing at home before receiving medical treatment Secondly, ATD caregivers had recognized the consultation to find out the degrees of progress of the dementia and to keep contacts with medical institutions. VD caregivers had recognized as to treat and control basal diseases. Thirdly, in evaluating how hospitalization influenced the cared, ATD caregivers recognized lowered cognitive ability, and VD caregivers recognized lowered physical ability. Fourthly, in doctors' attitudes, ATD caregivers had recognized doctors' considerate attitudes toward them ; VD caregivers had received instructions for medical treatment. Thus ATD caregivers needed doctors to explain the treatment more and to understand their life as well as to have a better attitude to the cared. VD caregivers needed more information on demential diseases. Common cognitions were in difficulty with hospitalization and dealing with acute symptoms These 9 cognitions highlighted 3 issues to consider medical treatment to the elderly with dementia : 1) to understand the caregivers difficulty and needs related to medical treatment. 2) to organize better conditions for consultations with doctor and 3) to deal with acute symptoms ; which will be important to ensure continual medical treatment and to support continual home life.
