Investigating the ways that older people cope with dementia : a qualitative study

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in dementia research towards understanding subjective experiences, which has led to the direct involvement of people with dementia in research. Understanding how older people cope with the range of difficulties posed by dementia has important implications for enhancing psychological well-being and quality of life.

This first part of this thesis contains a review of the theoretical literature and empirical studies pertaining to coping in dementia.  Relevant understandings of coping taken from the broader literature are considered.  The few qualitative studies specifically investigating aspects of coping with dementia are outlined.  Taken together, these appear to provide complementary information about a number of coping processes, but it is unlikely that the full range of methods of coping with dementia are comprehensively represented.  Existing coping models may be insufficient to explain coping with dementia, suggesting the need for further exploratory research.

Taking more of a critical realist approach, the second part of the thesis contains a qualitative research study, which aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the range of coping methods and processes used by people with dementia.  Details of personal coping experiences were elicited in semi-structured interviews with 12 older people with early-stage dementia.  Interview data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.  Three major themes emerged in relation to coping:  "making sense of dementia" "managing identity in relation to dementia", and "coping strategies and mechanisms".  Findings are discussed in relation to previous research, the relevance of existing coping models to coping with dementia, and implications for further research and provision of services for people with dementia.

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