Korean J Adult Nurs.  2017 Feb;29(1):63-75. 10.7475/kjan.2017.29.1.63.

The Elderly Spouses' Experiences of Providing Care for their Bedridden Patient at Home

• Cho YS
• Sohn SK

• KMID: 2406337
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2017.29.1.63

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to explore and describe the reported experiences of elderly spouses who care their bedridden spouse in the home.
METHODS
The participants of this study were 14 male and female elderly spouses who live in B metropolitan city and have provided care for more than six months. Data were collected from July 3 to November 6, 2014. Data analysis was done simultaneously with data collection, using the analytical methods of Strauss and Corbin for Grounded theory.
RESULTS
The core category was identified as "˜ going together bearing a heavy burden of care in old age.' In this study, the caring process of elderly spouses can be explained in terms of three stages such as "˜ a period of trial and error,'"˜ a period of mastering a role,' and "˜ a period of role transcendence'.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study can provide an intervention framework to reduce the heavy burden of caring for an elderly spouse.

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Data Collection
Female
Grounded Theory
Humans
Male
Spouses
Statistics as Topic

Figure

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  Figure 1. Theoretical framework for going together bearing a heavy burden of care in old age.

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