Building a support system for children with parents with young onset dementia

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24593522
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Community health/Gerontological nurisng
• Research Institution: Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Science
• Principal Investigator: OZAWA yoshiko 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (60320769)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HIDAKA Kikue 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (00361353) ; NAKAMURA Hromi 埼玉県立大学, 保健医療福祉学部, 准教授 (20444937)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: Coping Skills / Early onset / Dementia / Young Adult / Family

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to investigate a process for young adults to cope with parents with Early-onset dementia (EOD). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 young adults whose parents suffered from EOD. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The process included the following phases: shock, confusion, signs of reception, new relationship construction, and intention to go through life together with parent. We observed that the young adults were first shocked to find that dementia was immedicable and confused by how to address the onset of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and changes in parents’ behavior associated with aggravation of symptoms for a long time. Subsequently, they can think about the advantages (the parents’ trace and the impact on the family) associated with their parents' disease by accepting reality and this may help to enkindle a new relationship and provide support to their parents in the future.

Free Research Field

老年看護学、家族看護学