Mrs. Tailler lives in the western region of Switzerland. She is 70 years old. Her husband, who is 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia six years ago. Both Mrs. Tailler and her husband were previously married. Mrs. Tailler has three children from her first marriage, and her husband has four children. Mrs. Tailler worked as a nurse practitioner. The Alzheimer's diagnosis turned Mrs. Tailler's life upside down. Caregiving has made her housebound; she sees her hopes of enjoying life as a retiree with her husband thwarted. She is no longer able to do for her own family what she wishes she could; she lacks the time to look after her grandchildren or to go out for social engagements. The fact that it is not possible to talk to her husband about his illness limits Mrs. Tailler's hope for relief. Mrs. Tailler is supported by her husband's daughters, who arranged for him to be enrolled in a day program, which he has recently begun attending two times a week. He is on the waiting list for short stays in several homes.
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The organization of regular care through institutional arrangements must be done slowly, says Mrs. Tailler. Otherwise, her husband would lose his bearings and she would feel unsettled.
TRANSCRIPT
Herr Reinhart
For a long time, Mr. Reinhart and his partner grappled with the idea of bringing his mother, who suffers from dementia, to live with them.
Mr. Reinhart and his partner spent a long time discussing whether he would be able to bring his mother, Mrs. Reinhart, who suffers from dementia, to live with him when she can no longer live at home with the support of her partner. While others advise him against it, he considers the plan feasible because it is compatible with his home lifestyle.
At home or in a nursing home?
Herr Sonderegger
For Mr. Sonderegger's wife, the nursing home proved to be only a temporary option.
For Mr. Sonderegger's wife, the nursing home proved to be only a temporary option. After her aggressiveness had subsided, Mr. Sonderegger decided to care for her at home again. She was much better at home, much busier than in the home, which was good for her. The depressive mood she had suffered from in the nursing home had subsided.
At home or in a nursing home?
Mrs. Tailler lives in the western region of Switzerland. She is 70 years old. Her husband, who is 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia six years ago. Both Mrs. Tailler and her husband were previously married. Mrs. Tailler has three children from her first marriage, and her husband has four children. Mrs. Tailler worked as a nurse practitioner. The Alzheimer's diagnosis turned Mrs. Tailler's life upside down. Caregiving has made her housebound; she sees her hopes of enjoying life as a retiree with her husband thwarted. She is no longer able to do for her own family what she wishes she could; she lacks the time to look after her grandchildren or to go out for social engagements. The fact that it is not possible to talk to her husband about his illness limits Mrs. Tailler's hope for relief. Mrs. Tailler is supported by her husband's daughters, who arranged for him to be enrolled in a day program, which he has recently begun attending two times a week. He is on the waiting list for short stays in several homes.
Frau Tailler
Mrs. Tailler says that the doctor was dismissive when she tried to bring up her concerns about her husband’s advancing dementia.
Mrs. Tailler says that the doctor was dismissive when she tried to bring up her concerns about her husband’s advancing dementia. She felt left alone with the challenges she faced caregiving. Her doctor provided no counseling about the disease, which was delegated to the counseling center.
Four levels of communication of the caregivers
Dementia
Frau Tailler
The organization of regular care through institutional arrangements must be done slowly, says Mrs. Tailler. Otherwise, her husband would lose his bearings and she would feel unsettled.
The organization of regular care through institutional arrangements must be done slowly, says Mrs. Tailler. Otherwise, her husband would lose his bearings and she would feel unsettled.
At home or in a nursing home?
Dementia
Frau Tailler
The doctor would have offered great help if he had raised the topic of her husband’s dementia with him, says Mrs. Tailler. As it was, she was unable to address her need for support providing ongoing care.
The doctor would have offered great help if he had raised the topic of her husband’s dementia with him, says Mrs. Tailler. Not calling a spade a spade, she says, is not a relief. Mrs. Tailler believes that people with dementia should be informed about their illness because otherwise negotiating the care situation later on becomes more difficult or impossible. Now, her husband does not appreciate that she needs some formal reprieve from ongoing care.
What helps? - Caregivers' perspective
Dementia
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