Personal experience of aging in the children of a parent with dementia.
We investigated whether adults with a parent with dementia experience their personal aging differently than adults whose parents do not have dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 adults who had a parent with dementia and 25 controls. We found that, although in a general sense the two groups were quite similar in their personal experiences of aging, there were specific differences. The children of parents with dementia had a health-concept in which there was substantial emphasis on mental health. Moreover, they linked the dementia of their parent to their own aging and worried about developing a dementia syndrome themselves. They also held different attitudes with regard to end-of-life decisions. Finally, participants having a parent with dementia gave more extensive answers to simple questions. This overall response suggests more involvement with growing older and finitude in the children of parents with dementia.
Gerritsen
Debby
D
VU University Medical Center, EMGO Institute, Dept of Nursing Home Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. DL.Gerritsen.emgo@vumc.nl
Kuin
Yolande
Y
Steverink
Nardi
N
D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D003704:Dementia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands