Alzheimer's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alzheimer's Disease, including details on diagnosis, memory loss, heredity, treatment, medication.

Family strategies for supporting involvement in meaningful activity by persons with dementia.

Phinney A

School of Nursing, Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5. phinney@nursing.ubc.ca

Involvement in meaningful activity may be helpful for those with dementia, although it is a poorly understood phenomenon among those living in the community with family members. An interpretive phenomenological study was conducted with eight families to determine how family members support involvement in activity of persons with dementia and what it means to families. Repeated individual interviews were conducted with the person with dementia and a family member; they were asked to tell stories about their usual activities, to consider the impact of the dementia on everyday life and what they did to cope with difficulties. They were also observed taking part in everyday activities. Analysis revealed three strategies used by families to support activity: (a) reducing demands, (b) guiding, and (c) accompanying. These strategies allowed families to sustain meaning for both the person with dementia and the family itself. Significance for practice and ideas for future research are discussed.

Published 30 January 2006 in J Fam Nurs, 12(1): 80-101.
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