[Men as caregivers for their wives - two phenomenological studies of the experiences of male primary caregivers in home care arrangements. Part II: men as caregivers for their wives suffering from dementia].

BACKGROUND

In Germany, men participate more and more in the extensive process of caring for their relatives.

AIM

Focus of the second study are husbands caring in home care for their wives suffering from dementia. Objective of the present study is to analyse the following questions, with focus on caring husbands: Firstly, how do caring husbands experience caring for their wives suffering from dementia? And secondly, how do they organise daily life?

METHOD

Narrative interviews with ten caring husbands were conducted. Analysis was performed using a modified phenomenological-interpretative approach as described by Diekelmann (1992).

RESULTS

Seven central issues evolved: "Dementia is a mischievous disease …" (disease as lingering crisis); "But there is a commitment …" (relationship); "Quarrel, that's not resolved without efforts …" (conflict); "Nothing's left from that …" (loss); "The amount of care, it didn't decrease, it's getting more …" (care); "The world's getting smaller …" (limitations); "I don't dislike it when someone's around supporting me …" (support). "Being bonded" emerged as a constitutive pattern, according to which caring husbands perceive their own life situation.

CONCLUSIONS

Caring husbands perceive and organise their wives' care situation individually. This includes their evaluation of professional assistance offers. Our findings point out the clear need for different offers of professional care givers when collaborating with caring husbands. Further research should focus on individual (long-time) care courses as well as reasons for declining professional assistance offers.