Psihološki vidiki skrbnikov oseb z demenco

MOHAR, KEVIN (author), Svetina, Matija (mentor)

Število oseb z demenco zaradi staranja prebivalstva narašča. Bolezen pa ne prizadene le oseb z demenco, ampak tudi vse, ki zanje skrbijo. Večinski del oskrbe največkrat prevzamejo neformalni skrbniki, to so svojci, ki jih vežejo osebne vezi do osebe z demenco. V svoji magistrski nalogi sem želel dobiti neposreden vpogled v njihovo življenje in preko individualnih zgodb prikazati, kakšen vpliv ima oskrba svojca z demenco na neformalne skrbnike. Osvetlil sem tudi čustvene odzive skrbnikov ob (in po) namestitvi svojca z demenco v dom starejših občanov. Izvedel sem polstrukturirane intervjuje z dvanajstimi neformalnimi skrbniki oseb z demenco. Šest neformalnih skrbnikov je imelo v času intervjuja svojca z demenco v domači oskrbi, šest skrbnikov pa je imelo svojca nameščenega v domu starejših občanov. Zbrane podatke sem analiziral z metodo utemeljene teorije. Pri tem sem uporabil program za analizo kvalitativnih podatkov Quirkos. Udeleženci so poročali, da so pri obolelem svojcu opazili spremembe na osebnostnem, vedenjskem in spoznavnem področju. Spremenili so se odnosi v družini, udeleženci so se znašli v novi vlogi – vlogi skrbnika. Skrb za osebo z demenco se jim je zdela zahtevna, saj so se soočali z visoko stopnjo psihične in čustvene obremenjenosti, nekaterim je skrb za svojca predstavljala tudi časovno in fizično breme. Vedenjske in osebnostne spremembe svojcev z demenco udeležence najbolj obremenjujejo, skrb za osebo z demenco pa je okrnila tudi njihovo socialno življenje. Nekateri skrbniki poročajo o simptomih stresa, skrbniške izgorelosti in slabšem splošnem počutju. Skoraj vsi udeleženci so navedli tudi pozitivne izkušnje z oskrbovanjem. Nekateri so v skrbi za svojca našli svoje poslanstvo in notranjo umirjenost, drugi pri skrbi vztrajajo zaradi povračila staršem. Udeležence je namestitev svojca v dom starejših občanov razbremenila, vendar so se ob tem soočali z občutki krivde, žalosti in skrbi. Pomen magistrskega dela vidim predvsem v tem, da bralcu poskuša približati neformalne skrbnike kot populacijo, ki ne sme biti spregledana.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: demenca, neformalni skrbniki, kvalitativna raziskava, psihološki vidiki, dom starejših občanov, oskrba starejših, skrbniki, utemeljena teorija
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [K. Mohar]
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 63 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132155
• Publication date in RUL: 14.10.2021

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Psychological aspects of caregivers of people with dementia

Abstract

The number of people with dementia is increasing because of population aging. The illness does not only affect the people with dementia but also their caregivers. The major part of care is implemented by informal caregivers – relatives that have a personal relationship with the person who suffers from dementia. The intention of this master’s thesis was to get a direct insight into their life and to demonstrate through individual stories how greatly caring for a relative with dementia influences informal caregivers. The thesis also highlights the caregivers’ experience during (and after) moving their relative with dementia into a nursing home. Twelve semi-structured interviews were carried out with informal caregivers of people with dementia. Six informal caregivers were taking care of the relative with dementia at home at the time of the interview and six caregivers had their relative accommodated in a nursing home. The gathered information was analysed with the grounded theory method. We used Quirkos program for analysis of qualitative data. The participants disclosed that they notices changes in personality, behaviour and cognition in the afflicted relative. The relationships within the family changed. The participants found themselves in a new role – the role of caregiver. Taking care of a person with dementia seems demanding for them, because they dealt with a high level of mental and emotional strain. Some of them pointed out that taking care of their relative also presents a physical and a time burden. Behavioural and personality changes of relatives with dementia are the most burdensome for the participants and taking care of a person with dementia reduces their social life. Some of the caregivers observe symptoms of stress, caregiver burnout and poor general well-being. Almost all participants also name positive experiences with caregiving. Some of them found their true calling and an inner calmness while taking care of their relative. Others persist in caregiving in order to give back to their parents. Situating a relative into a nursing home unburdens the participants. However, they felt guilty, sad and worried. The intention of this thesis is to make the readers familiar with informal caregivers as a population that cannot be overlooked.

• Keywords: dementia, informal caregivers, qualitative research, psychological aspects, nursing home, elder care, caregivers, grounded theory