Ragnhild Hedman1, Pernilla Hillerås2,3, Marie Tyrrell1,3. 1. Department of Nursing Science, 25548Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Red Cross University College, Huddinge, Sweden. 3. Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, 97092Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Women often support partners with cognitive symptoms during the assessment process and when they are receiving a cognitive diagnosis. Living with a partner with cognitive symptoms can be stressful; however, there is limited insights into the specific experiences of older women during the assessment process. Previous research indicates that there are gender differences in the experiences of spousal caregiving; however, further research is needed in regard to the experiences of men and women as care partners. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe women's experiences of living with a partner undergoing a cognitive assessment. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven women when their male partners commenced a cognitive assessment and after the assessment had been completed. The interviews were analysed with abductive content analysis. FINDINGS: Uncertainty permeated the women's experiences. Antecedents, attributes and strategies to manage the uncertainty were described. CONCLUSION: The participants expressed informational and existential uncertainty when their partner underwent a cognitive assessment. A lack of knowledge regarding the assessment process and cognitive diagnoses, especially mild cognitive impairment, was identified. Further, there was a need to process existential uncertainty evoked by the situation.
INTRODUCTION: Women often support partners with cognitive symptoms during the assessment process and when they are receiving a cognitive diagnosis. Living with a partner with cognitive symptoms can be stressful; however, there is limited insights into the specific experiences of older women during the assessment process. Previous research indicates that there are gender differences in the experiences of spousal caregiving; however, further research is needed in regard to the experiences of men and women as care partners. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe women's experiences of living with a partner undergoing a cognitive assessment. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven women when their male partners commenced a cognitive assessment and after the assessment had been completed. The interviews were analysed with abductive content analysis. FINDINGS: Uncertainty permeated the women's experiences. Antecedents, attributes and strategies to manage the uncertainty were described. CONCLUSION: The participants expressed informational and existential uncertainty when their partner underwent a cognitive assessment. A lack of knowledge regarding the assessment process and cognitive diagnoses, especially mild cognitive impairment, was identified. Further, there was a need to process existential uncertainty evoked by the situation.
Entities:
Keywords:
care partner; caregiver; cognitive assessment; cognitive impairment; dementia; experience; gender; neuropsychiatric symptoms; uncertainty; wives; women
Authors: Sarah Campbell; Jill Manthorpe; Kritika Samsi; Clare Abley; Louise Robinson; Sue Watts; John Bond; John Keady Journal: J Aging Stud Date: 2016-03-19