| Summary: | 碩士 === 長庚大學 === 護理學研究所 === 93 === This study extends the concept of role tuning with Grounded Theory. It investigates the role of the family caregivers of the dementia patient in Taiwanese culture during the changes in a caregiver’s role in the caregiver process. A total of 35 in-depth interviews were conducted and the participants observed over a period of 2.5 years. The focus was on the interaction between the care-receivers and care-givers.
A new core category “unidirectional role tuning” became evident from the interactive family care-giver process of dementia patients. In this core category, the interaction between care-giver and care-receiver shows the need for unidirectional balanced adjustments because of the constantly varying illness trajectory of the care-receiver. In addition, in this interaction it is only the care-giver that is capable of adjustment, and who must find a way to adapt to the changes of the care-receiver. The results in the care-giver going through three different states: conflict, compromise and stabilization. When facing these three states, the care-giver may have to deal with different situation.
The core tri-states are a kind of dynamic continues rolling process, along the illness trajectory and role development, naturally moving along as time passes. They form a parabolic curve representing the course of how the care-giver develops a “unidirectional ” role and gains the capability of dealing with a family member stricken with dementia.
The process forces care-givers to move towards greater capability as well as to role maturation. The process is also influenced by other important interactive factors including the core rolling force and the elements that form the initial slope which made core tri-states rolling faster and moving toward role maturation much quicker.
This study provides detail information on the role changes of care-giver when providing care for a family member with dementia.
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