Jag skriver för att minnas dig... : En tematisk analys av berättelser om anhörigskap vid demenssjukdom

Sammanfattning: In Sweden as well as internationally, the demographic development is moving towards an increasingly older population. At the same time the risk for dementia increases with age. This implies a future increased need for care and support for the elderly and for those diagnosed with dementia. Currently, family members already take a substantial responsibility for their relatives´ care and support, which can impose both physical and psychological burdens on the caregivers. The purpose of this study is therefore to explore the experience of informal caregiving. This is achieved through a thematic analysis of three authors´narratives of their relationship with a parent with dementia. The results indicating that informal caregiving is demanding and exhausting while the satisfaction with the relationship provides a sense of purpose, which influence the experience of caregiving. Furthermore, an effective communication and positive interactions with care professionals facilitate the process. Continued research is necessary to assess the specific support that adult children of parents with dementia require.