Journal
DEMENTIA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
Volume 11, Issue 5, Pages 677-693Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/1471301211419018
Keywords
Alzheimer's; dementia; living alone; sense of self; women
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This paper investigates the subjective experiences of older women living alone with Alzheimer's disease, vascular or mixed dementia. Eight women were interviewed to explore how they managed their identities and coped with day-to-day living, in the absence of a significant co-resident other who might reflect them back to themselves. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis themes emerged about loss, embodiment, adapting, awareness, safety, relationships, exclusion and loneliness. Memory loss had the most significant impact through loss of independence. However, the women were actively engaged in re-constructing their sense of self, using a variety of coping strategies. Relationships with friends, neighbours and attendance at memory clubs were important. A search for meaningful relationships was apparent, conflicting with feeling vulnerable and a consequent desire for self protection.
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