[Cohabitation of lucid and non-lucid residents]

The primary goal of this study was to confirm the appropriateness of an experimental model that studied the emotions of a rational client toward living with cognitively impaired clients. The second goal was to identify factors linking the feelings of health caregivers toward the cohabitation or segregation of rational and cognitively impaired couples. The research took place in 19 Montreal senior citizen homes with 75 beds or more. The senior citizen homes, the rational clients and the health caregivers were selected using specific criteria and systematic sample selection. Individual interviews with 435 rational clients living in cohabitation units were undertaken. In addition, 349 health caregivers (nurses, practical nurses and attendants) responded to a questionnaire relating to the cohabitation of these couples. It was found that the rational clients adjusted well to the model. Four variables reflecting the emotions of 33 per cent of the rational partners include: The frequency of uncomfortable feelings related to living with the cognitively impaired; their knowledge level about cognitive impairment; their distress level relating to the confused/irrational behavior of the cognitively impaired; and their perception of the advantages of living with the cognitively impaired. The rational clients who had the least understanding of cognitive impairment identified that they were more upset by the confused client's behavior. They demonstrated uncomfortable feelings toward living with confused/irrational clients more frequently, and perceived less advantages relating to cohabitating with these clients. Consequently, the rational clients were less amenable to cohabitation. The percentage of cognitively impaired clients living on the same floor was not identified as a variable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)