Home-dwelling older adults' attitudes and perceptions of dementia: A Q-methodological study in South Korea

Older adult attitudes and perceptions of dementia can have a major impact on early diagnosis, efforts to prevent and appropriately treat it, as well as being a family burden. The aim of this study is to explore attitudes and perceptions of dementia of home-dwelling older adults using Q-methodology.

A total of 42 adults, age 65 or over, who live in South Korea ranked 37 Q statements about their attitudes and perceptions of dementia into A Q sort table grid.

The following three distinct viewpoints were extracted: (1) it is my responsibility to prevent and to care about dementia (family-centered view); (2) there are no ways to treat dementia (despairing views); and (3) dementia is a national responsibility (nation-centered view).

Based on these results, central and local government and communities should work together with older adults to manage dementia and reflect these three viewpoints when developing systematic dementia management programs.