Telephone use among noninstitutionalized persons with dementia living alone: mapping out difficulties and response strategies.
The aim of this study was to map out and describe difficulties and response strategies in telephone use among elderly, noninstitutionalized persons with dementia living alone. To obtain explorative data, interviews and observations in the homes were undertaken with 10 participants diagnosed with dementia. The participants were observed when showing their telephones, calling a well-known number, responding to a request previously sent by letter to make a telephone call, and finding a number in the telephone directories. The data were analysed using a comparative approach, and resulted in descriptive categories. The participants' difficulties were categorized as difficulty in 'knowing what', 'knowing where', 'knowing how' and overcoming motor, perceptual, verbal and environmental obstacles. In responding to these, they used a variety of environmentally related strategies such as using perception or habits and habitual places, verbalizing aloud, seeking help from others, and adjusting the physical environment. They also used a few cognitively related strategies such as repeating and stopping and reflecting. Overall, difficulties were frequent and common, and the effectiveness of the strategies was questionable. The results indicate that it might be unrealistic to assume that elderly persons with symptoms of dementia who live alone are able to satisfactorily use the telephone for safety, communication and participation in society.
Nygård
Louise
L
Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. louise.nygard@neurotec.ki.se
Starkhammar
Sofia
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018577:Homebound Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011340:Problem Solving; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017751:Safety Management; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013689:Telephone