title: Coping with conflicting agendas: the bathing experience of cognitively impaired older adults.
abstract: The behaviors of 33 clients with cognitive impairment were examined during bath time using grounded theory methods. Analysis revealed that 73% of the adults displayed agitated behaviors during personal hygiene care. Subjects and caregivers were faced with conflicting agendas and attempted to cope by using a variety of verbal and nonverbal strategies. The strategies used by cognitively impaired older adults included: attaining control, sharing control, resigning control, and regaining inner control. Results of this study suggest that older adults with cognitive impairment have a repertoire of coping mechanisms that are used when environmental demands challenge the person's deteriorating cortical abilities.
authors.affiliation: Marquette University College of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kovach
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Meyer-Arnold
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001494:Baths / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010358:Patient Participation; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation