Narrative analysis of the hospital experience for older parents of people who cannot speak

In this study eight parents aged over 60 years participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences in supporting an adult son or daughter with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs (CCN) in hospital. A narrative analysis of the interviews provided insights into the nature of the parent carer's experiences in hospital. The results are presented as an interpretation of the participants' perceptions of their roles in hospital and the impact of these upon their health and wellbeing in older age. The participants' suggestions of how to improve the hospital care experience for all concerned are included and directions for future research are discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.