Upplevelser av att vårda en närstående med demenssjukdom : En deskriptiv litteraturstudie

Sammanfattning: Background: Today, approximately 160,000 people live with dementia in Sweden and globally, the number of affected people is approximately 50 million. Dementia is a collective name for a variety of brain diseases that occur from brain damage. As dementia often materializes gradually overtime, it tends to lead to a family member becoming the caregiver of the person who is sick. Aim: The aim of this literature study was to illustrate the experience of those caring for a relative with dementia as well as to describe the study groups in the included studies. Method: This study is a literature review with descriptive design consisting of twelve scientific articles with a qualitative approach. Main results: Becoming a caregiver to a relative with dementia was rarely a choice but it was a role in which the family member grows into. Many people experienced the role as a caregiver as complex and it was common to experience feelings of insecurity, isolation, fatigue and frustration. The approach and method for managing the disease differed significantly for each caregiver analyzed during this study, however humor, acceptance and religion were often employed as coping mechanisms. The result was compiled with seven subheadings: From family to family caregiver, Support in care, Insecurity, ignorance and difficult situations, More than a full time job, Loss and fear of the future, Coping strategies, and Methodological aspect – study groups. Conclusion: Being a family caregiver was a challenge to most people. Many have expressed the gravity of receiving both societal support and help from other family members to obtain relief within their role, but in spite of this, the caregiver often took the greater responsibility. Therefore, a critical change in the support is necessary to enable them to want, and be able, to continue to fulfill the important work they do.