How do people in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease see their future?
Older people fear Alzheimer's disease. Central to the fear of the disease is the dread of the loss of identity or self. The aim of this study is to investigate the thoughts people in an early stage of Alzheimer's disease have about their future selves, and the consequences these thoughts have for their temporary lives. The concepts of future and self are understood in terms of the concepts 'possible selves' and 'selfhood'. The participants in the study are two men in their early 60 s. The data consist of four individual interviews and 11 facilitated family conversations including two of their next of kin. The data were collected over a two-year period. The data were interpreted using a hermeneutic analysis inspired by Gadamer. The main findings were the efforts made by the participants to live in the present and their worries about a future as 'living dead'.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Care Sciences, Centre of Care Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway.
Per Jørgen Langø
PJ
Kristiansen
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Care Sciences, Centre of Care Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway.
Hans K
HK
Normann
Ersta Sköndal University College and Umeå University, Sweden.
Astrid
A
Norberg
Resource Centre on Violence, Traumatic Stress and Suicide Prevention, University Hospital in Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Aud-Mari
AM
Fjelltun
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Care Sciences, Centre of Care Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway.
Mari W
MW
Skaalvik
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research
Alzheimer’s disease; Harré’s theory of selfhood; hermeneutic; possible selves; self