Interpersonal Interactions and The Intreraction Model Between Demented Elders and Family Caregivers in Their Homes

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The objectives of this study were to clarify the actual status of interactions performed at home between demented elders and their family caregivers, and to develop the interaction model between them. An inductive qualitative study was conducted by using a grounded theory approach.Based on a constant comparative analysis, results revealed the levels of "certainty" of the elders as core variables in interactions between the elders and the caregivers. Characteristic interactions were found to fall into three categories. The category 1 is the interactions of caregivers' persistence of "certainty" of demented elders, category 2 is the interactions when the "nucertainty" of demented elders is unquestionable, and category 3 is interactions when "certainty" of demented elders is clear. In the category 1, subcategories named "looking for the holes", "digging the holes" and "filling in the holes" according to the caregivers persistence of "uncertainty" of demented elders were found. In the category 2, phenomena named "protection", "friction", "harmony" and "resistance" were observed. And the category 3 contained "equality".Premise of the interaction model is that the interactions between the caregivers and demented elders are largely affected by the manners of attitude of caregivers. There are 2 points in the general way of interactions. One point is the caregivers should pay attention not only to the "dementia" of the disease but also to their expressions of healthiness and personality. The following are to be considered : 1.to interact not to lower demented elders' existence, 2.to make effort to facilitatethe potential of demented elders for taking the attitude of others. The other point is that the caregivers and demented elders have various interactions. It is important that the actual way of interaction with demented elders is the diversity of interactions.