Frau Bodmer
Ms. Bodmer is 28 years old at the time of the interview, has two siblings, and lives in the northern part of Switzerland. Ms. Bodmer is currently working in education. Her 88-year-old grandmother, who is physically healthy, developed dementia six years ago. Her grandmother does not have a specific dementia diagnosis. Ms. Bodmer's grandmother lives alone at home in a small village. Ms. Bodmer's father, who lives in the immediate vicinity, cares for his mother daily. There is a wider support network of family members, friends, and neighbors who are in daily contact with Ms. Bodmer’s grandmother as well. The grandchildren help around the house, and Ms. Bodmer visits her grandmother on weekends to do things with her. Outside help from the outpatient nursing service has been considered by the family, but Ms. Bodmer’s grandmother is emotionally sensitive to the suggestion of bringing in external support.
TEXT
A trip that Ms. Bodmer took with her grandmother reflects perpetual tensions: between including her grandmother despite that being overwhelming for her grandmother, between investing in the relationship despite efforts being quickly forgotten.
Ms. Bodmer took her grandmother on a trip, although it required a lot of effort and caused significant stress. A week later, her grandmother could no longer remember the trip. Ms. Bodmer experiences a tightrope walk between wanting to including her grandmother and not wanting to overtaxing her, between wanting to invest in the relationship since the two were always very close, and not wanting to be disappointed when her grandmother forgets the interaction.
TRANSCRIPT
Related experiences
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
Frau Zeller
Treating her mother with respect means still perceiving in her the person she used to be, says Mrs. Zeller.
According to Mrs. Zeller, treating her mother with respect means still perceiving in her the person she used to be. Even with advanced dementia, she recognizes characteristics of her mother.
Processes of adaptation
Other experiences by Frau Bodmer
Frau Bodmer
Ms. Bodmer is 28 years old at the time of the interview, has two siblings, and lives in the northern part of Switzerland. Ms. Bodmer is currently working in education. Her 88-year-old grandmother, who is physically healthy, developed dementia six years ago. Her grandmother does not have a specific dementia diagnosis. Ms. Bodmer's grandmother lives alone at home in a small village. Ms. Bodmer's father, who lives in the immediate vicinity, cares for his mother daily. There is a wider support network of family members, friends, and neighbors who are in daily contact with Ms. Bodmer’s grandmother as well. The grandchildren help around the house, and Ms. Bodmer visits her grandmother on weekends to do things with her. Outside help from the outpatient nursing service has been considered by the family, but Ms. Bodmer’s grandmother is emotionally sensitive to the suggestion of bringing in external support.
Frau Bodmer
A trip that Ms. Bodmer took with her grandmother reflects perpetual tensions: between including her grandmother despite that being overwhelming for her grandmother, between investing in the relationship despite efforts being quickly forgotten.
Ms. Bodmer took her grandmother on a trip, although it required a lot of effort and caused significant stress. A week later, her grandmother could no longer remember the trip. Ms. Bodmer experiences a tightrope walk between wanting to including her grandmother and not wanting to overtaxing her, between wanting to invest in the relationship since the two were always very close, and not wanting to be disappointed when her grandmother forgets the interaction.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Frau Bodmer
Visiting her grandmother on weekends has become exhausting, Ms. Bodmer says. Having a free weekend to herself is more attractive, she says, which gnaws at her conscience.
Visiting her grandmother on the weekends has become exhausting, Ms. Bodmer says. Having a free weekend to herself is more attractive, she says, which gnaws at her conscience.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Frau Bodmer
Drawing up an advance directive was a complicated undertaking in the family, says Ms. Bodmer.
Drawing up an advance directive was a complicated undertaking in the family, says Ms. Bodmer. Like her grandmother, her father's brother was afraid his preferences wouldn’t be taken into account.
Four levels of communication of the caregivers
Dementia
Frau Bodmer
Ms. Bodmer wants to be able to decide for herself about the end of her life, which she credits to generational change.
Like her grandmother, Ms. Bodmer cannot imagine moving into a nursing home. She wants to be able to decide for herself about the end of her life, which she credits to generational change.
Advance care planning
Dementia
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