The lived experiences of elderly dementia patients in Taiwan

The lived experiences of elderly dementia patients are affected by their cultural beliefs. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of elderly dementia patients in Taiwan in order to understand how they view their lives given the cognitive impairments that they suffer from. A descriptive phenomenological approach was undertaken in 12 elderly dementia patients who were selected using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's analysis method. Five main themes emerged from the narratives: (i) distress caused by inability to remember; (ii) counteracting memory loss; (iii) worry about being a burden to family; (iv) cherishing the current situation and gaining respect; and (v) adopting a dispassionate view about life and death. The traditions of filial piety in Chinese culture were reflected in the experiences of these elderly dementia patients. Elderly dementia patients experienced inconveniences in their daily lives due to marked impairments in memory functions, and they even doubted their own independent capabilities. To counteract their disease, many elderly dementia patients developed self-contained approaches to handle their loss of memories. While they were worried about being a burden to their families, they also valued their current situation. They were comforted by being taken care of by their children, and they adopted a dispassionate view about life and death issues. For the care of elderly dementia patients, besides reducing the inconveniences brought about by cognitive impairments, there is also a need to pay attention to the deterioration of their physical bodily functions in order to intervene in their lives holistically.