Herr Sonderegger
Mr Sonderegger is 83 at the time of the interview and his wife is 80. The couple has children and lives in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. Mr Sonderegger's wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia when she was about 76 years old. However, he suspects that the dementia started some years earlier. Mr Sonderegger is supported by his son in caregiving. Mrs. Sonderegger was initially cared for in a nursing home. After the aggression subsided, Mr Sonderegger decided to care for his wife at home again to improve her quality of life. During the week, he is supported by privately engaged caregivers. The fact that the couple lives in a house with a garden helps a lot. Mr Sonderegger is confronted with other illnesses in the family. His brother is also suffering from dementia. He has taken over the guardianship for his sister-in-law, who is in need of care.
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Growing old is expensive," concludes Mr. Sonderegger.
Growing old is expensive," concludes Mr. Sonderegger. He has done the math: the private care he organized for his wife at home is cheaper than the nursing home, which cost over CHF 7000.- per month. At the moment, he pays CHF 2000.- per month out of his own pocket.
TRANSCRIPT
Related experiences
Herr Jenny und Herr Jenny
Mr. Jenny lost several thousand francs from his savings when he paid the deductible for the hospital stay.
Mr. Jenny paid a high deductible for the hospital stay. Several thousand francs were lost from his savings. His income was very barely sufficient to pay the additional costs for the dementia treatment in addition to current expenses. Mr. Jenny's brother plans to apply for supplementary benefits for him.
Costs of care
Frau Hofer
The disability pension only began to apply to Mrs. Hofer's husband after his dementia diagnosis. Before that, he had to accept financial disadvantages because he was receiving unemployment benefits.
Mrs. Hofer's husband's disability pension only began to apply after he was diagnosed with dementia. Before that, he had to accept financial disadvantages because the dementia remained undetected. When he lost his job due to difficulties at work, he was officially looking for work and received unemployment benefits.
Costs of care
Other experiences by Herr Sonderegger
Herr Sonderegger
Mr Sonderegger is 83 at the time of the interview and his wife is 80. The couple has children and lives in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. Mr Sonderegger's wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia when she was about 76 years old. However, he suspects that the dementia started some years earlier. Mr Sonderegger is supported by his son in caregiving. Mrs. Sonderegger was initially cared for in a nursing home. After the aggression subsided, Mr Sonderegger decided to care for his wife at home again to improve her quality of life. During the week, he is supported by privately engaged caregivers. The fact that the couple lives in a house with a garden helps a lot. Mr Sonderegger is confronted with other illnesses in the family. His brother is also suffering from dementia. He has taken over the guardianship for his sister-in-law, who is in need of care.
Herr Sonderegger
With the help of caregivers, Mr. Sonderegger can pursue his work and schedule time when he can be care-free.
If Mr. Sonderegger had to care for his wife alone around the clock, it wouldn't work. With the help of caregivers, Mr. Sonderegger can pursue his work and schedule time when he can be care-free.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
After the diagnosis, Mr. Sonderegger changed how he communicated with his wife.
After the diagnosis, Mr. Sonderegger changed how he communicated with his wife. He no longer contradicts her but instead remains patient. Arguments had previously been common.
Four levels of communication of the caregivers
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
For Mr. Sonderegger, the caregivers' group has not been very enriching. He wants to create his own experience.
For Mr. Sonderegger, the caregivers' group has not been that enriching. Instead, he informed himself by reading books and listening to lectures. His strategy, he says, is to adapt. He wants to create his own experiences.
What helps? - Caregivers' perspective
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
As mental impairment increases, so does physical health, says Mr. Sonderegger.
With the increasing mental impairment, the physical health also decreases, says Mr. Sonderegger. His wife used to be very fit, but today she can't walk for more than half an hour.
What is dementia?
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
Mr. Sonderegger finds joint activities important and right.
Mr. Sonderegger finds joint activities important and right. He takes his wife shopping with him. The couple goes for a walk together every day. Mr. Sonderegger attends a concert or goes to the theater with his wife from time to time. She is always present at family gatherings.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
Mr. Sonderegger comes into moral conflict with himself because he has to patronize his wife and restrict her freedom of movement.
Mr. Sonderegger recently installed a fence in the garden to prevent his wife from falling as much as possible and thus avert potential complicated medical interventions. It remains a moral conflict for him to patronize his wife and restrict her freedom of movement.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
Mr. Sonderegger can also imagine the home care arrangement for himself, as he has set it up for his wife.
Mr. Sonderegger can imagine the home care arrangement he has set up for his wife for himself as well, should he need it in the future.
Advance care planning
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
The questions in the advance directive are far too difficult and too detailed, says Mr. Sonderegger. He trusts in common sense.
The questions in the living will are far too difficult and too detailed, says Mr. Sonderegger. He trusts in common sense and in the fact that he can reasonably regulate a given situation with the health professionals.
Advance care planning
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
Growing old is expensive," concludes Mr. Sonderegger.
Growing old is expensive," concludes Mr. Sonderegger. He has done the math: the private care he organized for his wife at home is cheaper than the nursing home, which cost over CHF 7000.- per month. At the moment, he pays CHF 2000.- per month out of his own pocket.
Costs of care
Dementia
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?
Dementia
Herr Sonderegger
Mr. Sonderegger opposes the increase in sedatives for his wife.
Mr. Sonderegger opposes the increase in sedatives for his wife, who is being cared for in a nursing home. He does not want her personality to change even more as a result of the medication.
Therapeutic approaches
Dementia
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