A qualitative study on becoming cared for in Alzheimer's disease: the effects to women's sense of identity.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the lived experience of becoming cared for and the impact this has on the identity and sense of self of women with Alzheimer's disease.

METHOD

Eight women with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease were interviewed in Northamptonshire, England, on two separate occasions about their experiences relating to needing assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) tasks. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was the approach used to underpin this research.

RESULTS

Changes in the women's identity affected by the increased need for assistance with IADL tasks were expressed in terms of: who I am; unhappy being me; fighting to remain me; I'm not the same, but it doesn't worry me; and acceptance and contentment.

CONCLUSION

This study offers an alternative perspective to the view that all women with Alzheimer's disease experience becoming cared for as a negative event in their lives. Some factors universally perceived as being a result of Alzheimer's disease may be a normal part of the life course.