Characteristics and underlying meaning of hoarding behavior in elders with Alzheimer's dementia: caregivers' perspective.
BACKGROUND
Dementia and its associated problem behaviors remain bothersome to family and professional caregivers. Exploring characteristics and the underlying meaning of disruptive behaviors in elders with Alzheimer's dementia can be a first step to pursuing patient-centered care. Although hoarding is relatively harmless, unattended excessive hoarding can create health and safety issues for both patients and caregivers.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined the characteristics and underlying meaning of hoarding behavior among Taiwanese elders with Alzheimer's dementia from the perspective of family caregivers.


METHODS
We used an exploratory research design and purposive sampling. A total of 12 family caregivers of elders with Alzheimer's dementia received qualitative interview. We used one-on-one in-depth interviews to collect data and content analysis to analyze data.


RESULTS
Three main characteristics related to hoarding behavior emerged from the data were "influence of former and current symptoms," "recurrence of the original personal characteristics and habits," and "re-experiencing past economic crises." These three characteristics reflected patients' past social and family background and the current life situation. We elicited "a desire for security" as the underlying meaning of hoarding behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of this study provide a reference for family and professional care providers to understand dementia-related problem behaviors. Improved caregiver understanding of dementia patient behaviors may help improve caregiver-patient interaction and communication and help caregivers better meet patient needs.
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC. ns127@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Jing-Jy
JJ
Wang
Karen
K
Feldt
Wen-Yun
WY
Cheng
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003702:Delusions / Q000150:complications; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D060845:Hoarding; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012008:Recurrence; D013624:Taiwan; D013800:Theft / Q000523:psychology