CAREGIVER COPING EXPERIENCES ON TAKING CARE THE DEMENTIA ELDERLY IN A NURSING HOME

Introduction. Taking care dementia was stressful for both physical and emotional. The stress and burden influenced the caregiver’s quality of life. Consequently, emotional and behavior changes shown by the caregiver which is called coping mechanism appeared. The objective of the study is to identify a caregiver’s coping experiences on taking care the dementia elderly in nursing home. Method.This study used qualitative research design with phenomenology approach. The sampling technique used purposive sampling. There were ten participants that consisted of seven caregiver’s and three members of the nursing home management used. This study used interview, processing and the analysis used Collaizi method. Result.The study result identified fifteen themes, first it was dementia concept. The ways of taking care the dementia comprised the basic need, objective, method and social support. The obstacles which the caregivers felt were demand and burdens. The ways of handling obstacles were modified ways of care, coping mechanism and the supports sources. The caregiver’s hope in the comprised the structure of dementia, quality of life the elderly, health services and the caregiver’s welfare. Conclusion. Caregiver’s coping were influenced by the caregiver’s understanding about dementia, the way for caring them, the obstacles, problem solving and caregivers hope. The result suggests the need of support from other caregiver, nursing home members, caregiver’s family, community health centers, regional hospital, social department, and other organizations in dementia care. Ethnography study use uncertainty in illness model to explore caregiver coping experiences need to conduct for future study. Keywords: Experiences, Coping, Caregiver, Elderly, Dementi