The Phenomenology of Husbands Caring for Wives with Dementia

The lived experience of husbands caring for wives with dementia was investigated in order to develop a better understanding of their caregiver burden. The conceptual background for the study originated in the work of philosophical phenomenologists Edmund Husserl and Edith Stein with particular attention to their theories of inter-subjectivity and empathy. Amadeo Giorgi’s Descriptive Phenomenological Method in Psychology was used for study design and analysis. Results suggest an enduring connectedness of the couples and their bonds throughout the shifting of roles and emotions as the dementia progresses. Implications for nursing include the need to employ interventions respectful of the persistence of affective awareness in those with the dementia even towards end-stage and the resulting importance of situational assessment of decisional capacity.PhDDoctoralUniversity of New Mexico. College of NursingAverill, JenniferParshall, MarkLivingston, PaulMendelson, Cind