Dimensions and progression in the interaction between bilingual/monolingual caregivers and bilingual demented immigrants: analysis of video-recorded morning care sessions in institutions coded by means of the Erikson theory of "eight stages of man".

Seven demented Finnish immigrants were video-recorded during morning care together with bilingual and monolingual Swedish-speaking caregivers. A phenomenological-hermeneutic analysis of the video-recordings inspired by Ricoeur's philosophy was performed. The structural analysis was made by means of the Erikson theory of "eight stages of man." A statistical analysis was done in order to study dimensions and progression of interaction and compare the communication seen in relation to how caregivers supported the patients' integrity.