Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2093-758X
    J Korean Acad Nurs. 2014 Feb;44(1):41-54. Korean.
    Published online Feb 28, 2014.
    https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2014.44.1.41
    © 2014 Korean Society of Nursing Science
    Original Article

    The Experience of Adult Korean Children Caring for Parents Institutionalized with Dementia

    Suhye Kwon and Young-Sook Tae
      • College of Nursing, Kosin University, Busan, Korea.
    • Address reprint requests to: Tae, Young-Sook. College of Nursing, Kosin University, 262 Gamcheon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 602-702, Korea. Tel: +82-51-990-6446, Fax: +82-51-990-3031, Email: taehope@kosin.ac.kr
    Received August 19, 2013; Revised September 03, 2013; Accepted December 29, 2013.

    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

    Abstract

    Purpose

    The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of adult Korean children who are caregivers for parents institutionalized with dementia.

    Methods

    Participants were fourteen adult children caregivers of elders institutionalized with dementia. Data were collected through in-depth unstructured interviews with individual participants from August to November, 2012. Theoretical sampling was used to the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory Method.

    Results

    From open coding, 67 concepts, 29 sub-categories, and 14 categories were identified. Analysis revealed that the core category of the experience of adult children caring for their parents institutionalized with dementia was 'enduring the role of a prop' consisting of four phases: initial turmoil, exploration, role adjustment, and acclimation. To manage the role of a prop, participants utilized various action/interactional strategies such as overcoming the unfamiliarity, overseeing the nursing home care, and counterbalancing the caring roles. As a result, participants experienced ambivalence towards the existence of parents with dementia, changes in family relationships, altered viewpoint towards nursing homes, and restructuring of life.

    Conclusion

    In-depth understanding of the experience will guide nurses to promote effective interventions in order to better support the Korean family caregivers of parents institutionalized with dementia.

    Keywords
    Nursing home; Institutionalization; Dementia; Adult children; Family caregivers

    Figures

    Figure 1
    Theoretical framework for enduring the role of a prop.

    Tables

    Table 1
    Relationships among Categories using Paradigm Model

    Notes

    This manuscript is a revision of the first author's doctoral dissertation from Kosin University.

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    MeSH Terms
    Adaptation, Psychological
    Adult
    Aged
    Aged, 80 and over
    Asians
    Caregivers/psychology*
    Dementia/nursing*
    Family Relations
    Humans
    Interviews as Topic
    Middle Aged
    Nursing Homes
    Parents/psychology
    Quality of Life
    Republic of Korea
    Metrics
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