Journal List > Korean J Adult Nurs > v.29(1) > 1076495

Cho and Sohn: The Elderly Spouses’ Experiences of Providing Care for their Bedridden Patient at Home

Abstract

Purpose

This study was to explore and describe the reported experiences of elderly spouses who care their bedridden spouse in the home.

Methods

The participants of this study were 14 male and female elderly spouses who live in B metropolitan city and have provided care for more than six months. Data were collected from July 3 to November 6, 2014. Data analysis was done simultaneously with data collection, using the analytical methods of Strauss and Corbin for Grounded theory.

Results

The core category was identified as ‘going together bearing a heavy burden of care in old age.’ In this study, the caring process of elderly spouses can be explained in terms of three stages such as ‘a period of trial and error,’ ‘a period of mastering a role,’ and ‘a period of role transcendence’.

Conclusion

The results of this study can provide an intervention framework to reduce the heavy burden of caring for an elderly spouse.

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Figure 1.
Theoretical framework for going together bearing a heavy burden of care in old age.
kjan-29-63f1.tif
Table 1.
Relationships among Categories using Paradigm Model
Subcategories Categories Paradigm element
․ Unable to send to convalescent hospital Wanting to take care of their bedridden spouse in the home Causal condition
․ Dislike to be a burden Wishing to relieve their adult children's burden
․ A life as model of good parents
․ Managed to take care of one's spouse alone Heavy burden of care in old age Central phenomenon
․ Lived as a helper in old ages
․ Exhausted
․ Prison without a grating
․ Compassionated Duties and responsibilities as a married couple Contextual condition
․ An obligated course
․ Repaying for the effort
․ One's pride is hurt Being sensitive to how they look to others
․ Encouraged by others' compliment
․ Supports from children Help of supportive systems Intervening condition
․ Institutional support
․ Experiencing financial difficulties Economic difficulties
․ Poor housing
․ Unskilled care Undergoing trial and error of care Action/ interactional strategies
․ Conflict between husband and wife
․ Living with resignation Accepting their present situation as a fate
․ Task of life
․ Self-management Learning how to cope with difficulties of life
․ Having self-confidence of nursing
․ Embracing with a heart Becoming a true companion of life
․ Leaning on each other
․ Living as a friend each other
․ Futile life Feeling the vanity of life Consequences
․ Anxious about the future Uncertainty of the future
․ Positive attitude Positive attitude to life
․ Living with self-satisfaction
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