[At home in a strange world? Study of reality perception of a demented elderly patient in a nursing home: an interpretation of various viewpoints].
Only little is known about the personal experiences and feelings of demented elderly persons in geriatric care institutions. We conducted an intense qualitative case study with a 75-year old woman with Alzheimer dementia (Mrs. R.). Our main research method was participating observation during a period of almost four weeks. Information concerning the nursing staff's point of view was gathered by semi-structured interviews. The results indicated two different frames of reference. The past formed the basis for the present experience of Mrs. R. Her behaviour revealed a lot of signs of normality. This was especially evident during her daily stays in a corner seating unit of the living area. Mrs. R. behaved like feeling at home in that particular place. The behaviour and attitudes of the nursing staff were mainly determined by their perception of Mrs. R. as a frail and ill person. It seemed that the staff had only little knowledge of Mrs. R.'s biography that could have broadened their syndrome-oriented point of view.
Beyer
Gerrit
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011936:Reality Testing; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception