| Summary: | 碩士 === 慈濟大學 === 人類學研究所 === 95 === The purpose of the research is to explore the illness experiences of elderly dementia patients in a daycare center in eastern Taiwan. A qualitative study was conducted by applying in-depth interview and participant observation to collect information from the dementia patients, their family members and the caring nurses. Information on the fourteen patients were collected with semi-structured interviews, focusing on patients’ viewpoints of illness experience and the meaning of dementia to them. This study also explores patients’ understanding of etiology, symptoms of onset, meaning of treatment process, which was resulted in patients’ resistance and reconstructed biography. Narrative and symbolic interactionism analytic methods were used for the study. Interview data were categorized into meaningful codes and categorized into three major themes: 1) the illness experience of the elderly dementia and their subjective interpretation of dementia, 2) the feelings of the primary caring members and their adaptation in caring, and 3) the culture of caring among the Chinese in Taiwan. It has been found that the interaction of story-telling and group activities involved body movements helps the dementia patients to increase the embodiment and self-actualization of their own selves on the one hand, and, on the other, generate the meaning construction and shape their body image and self-identity. In addition, the dilemma experienced by the caring givers and the change of caring culture occurred to the Taiwan society were also demonstrated. Taking the illness experience as a social event, this study illustrates the dialogue between the natural and social forces, and the transition of attitude toward lives, patterns of coping and the meanings of the culture and significant others to the dementia patients. Such findings would be helpful for the medical staffs and family caring givers to better understand and serve better what is needed by the dementia patients—a caring culture with more humanities.
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