Frau Weber
Mrs. Weber is 58 years old at the time of the interview. She lives with her family, her husband, and two children, in Northwestern Switzerland. She works part-time. The interview took place one year after the death of Mrs. Weber's mother, who began to show signs of dementia at the age of 65. She did not have a specific dementia diagnosis. Her mother initially lived in a flat in an urban setting for six years before transferring to a nursing home, where she died at 77. Mrs. Weber's father, who is significantly older than her mother, also developed dementia. He lives with his younger partner, who cares for him along with Mrs. Weber's support. Mrs. Weber has no siblings.
VIDEO
It repeatedly becomes clear in the interview that Mrs. Weber is trying to understand how people with dementia experience the world. Her case differs from the images of dementia she sees represented in the media.
It repeatedly becomes clear in the interview that Mrs. Weber is trying to understand how people with dementia experience the world. Her case differs from the images of dementia she sees represented in the media, which often present a happy and contented picture of the inner world of dementia patients. Mrs. Weber experienced her mother as being stressed, anxious, sad, and angry.
Video Interview
TRANSCRIPT
Related experiences
Herr Vuillemin
Dementia is invisible, yet it causes suffering, says Mr. Vuillemin.
Dementia is invisible, yet it causes great suffering, says Mr. Vuillemin. Even though he is independent, that does not mean he suffers less from the disease.
What is dementia?
Frau Hofer
The authorities did not recognise her husband's failures as a possible illness, Mrs. Hofer says.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hofer contacted the Regional Employment Agency (RAV) to make them aware of dementia in younger persons. She expressed criticism of the discrediting treatment of her husband by the representatives of the authorities, who did not explain his failures as a possible illness, but attributed them to his person.
What is dementia?
Other experiences by Frau Weber
Frau Weber
Mrs. Weber is 58 years old at the time of the interview. She lives with her family, her husband, and two children, in Northwestern Switzerland. She works part-time. The interview took place one year after the death of Mrs. Weber's mother, who began to show signs of dementia at the age of 65. She did not have a specific dementia diagnosis. Her mother initially lived in a flat in an urban setting for six years before transferring to a nursing home, where she died at 77. Mrs. Weber's father, who is significantly older than her mother, also developed dementia. He lives with his younger partner, who cares for him along with Mrs. Weber's support. Mrs. Weber has no siblings.
Frau Weber
With cognitive decline, respect is inevitably lost in social interactions, says Mrs. Weber.
With cognitive decline, respect is inevitably lost in social interaction, says Mrs. Weber.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Frau Weber
Mrs. Weber feels she sees hardly any effect of the dementia medication. The doctor confirms Mrs. Weber's impression.
Mrs. Weber feels she sees hardly any effect of the dementia medication. The doctor confirms Mrs. Weber's impression.
Therapeutic approaches
Dementia
Frau Weber
The advice to be mentally and physically active to prevent dementia is unconvincing to Mrs. Weber.
The advice to be mentally and physically active to prevent dementia is unconvincing to Mrs. Weber.
What is dementia?
Dementia
Frau Weber
Since her mother no longer understood how common things functioned and could not handle everyday life as a result, Mrs. Weber had to visit to check in on her frequently. Her mother would also call several times a day.
Since her mother no longer understood how common things functioned and could not handle everyday life as a result, Mrs. Weber had to visit to check in on her frequently. Her mother would also call several times a day.
What is dementia care?
Dementia
Frau Weber
Mrs. Weber cared for her mother, who suffered from dementia, in addition to looking after her family and maintaining her job. The burden felt enormous. Her family showed understanding. Today, she is concerned with the question of whether she was able to fulfill her role as a mother well while providing care for her own mother.
Mrs. Weber cared for her mother, who suffered from dementia, in addition to looking after her family and maintaining her job. The burden felt enormous. While caring for her mother, she would just be minimally functional, and she noticed that she could hardly stand any physical contact. Hugs from her children did her good, but she could not bear any tenderness from her husband. Her husband was understanding. Today, she is concerned by the question of whether she fulfill her role as a mother well enough in that time.
What helps? - Caregivers' perspective
Dementia
Frau Weber
Mrs. Weber could rely on neighbors and the nearby community when her mother was still living alone and would get lost going out.
Mrs. Weber could rely on neighbors and the nearby community when her mother was still living alone and would get lost going out.
Four levels of communication of the caregivers
Dementia
Frau Weber
Dementia does not have a constant course, says Mrs. Weber. In the case of her mother, the fluctuation in functioning was so pronounced that there were times when Mrs. Weber doubted that her mother had dementia at all.
Dementia does not have a constant course, says Mrs. Weber. Bright moments alternate with bad days. The fluctuation in functioning was so pronounced that there were times when Mrs. Weber doubted that her mother had dementia at all.
What is dementia?
Dementia
Frau Weber
Mrs. Weber talks about feelings of guilt and conflicts of conscience triggered by compulsion to act.
The transfer of her mother to a nursing home and the decision to extract her lower teeth still trigger feelings of guilt and conflicts of conscience in Mrs. Weber. Although both decisions were made in consultation with the doctor, Mrs. Weber felt they were coercive.
Processes of adaptation
Dementia
Frau Weber
It repeatedly becomes clear in the interview that Mrs. Weber is trying to understand how people with dementia experience the world. Her case differs from the images of dementia she sees represented in the media.
It repeatedly becomes clear in the interview that Mrs. Weber is trying to understand how people with dementia experience the world. Her case differs from the images of dementia she sees represented in the media, which often present a happy and contented picture of the inner world of dementia patients. Mrs. Weber experienced her mother as being stressed, anxious, sad, and angry.
What is dementia?
Dementia
Frau Weber
It's hard to grasp how mental deterioration unfolds unless you witness it yourself, says Mrs. Weber.
It's hard to grasp how mental deterioration unfolds unless you witness it yourself, says Mrs. Weber.
What is dementia?
Dementia
Frau Weber
The body continues to function normally while mental degradation progresses, Mrs. Weber says. Cognitive ability and physical capacity diverge significantly.
The body continues to function normally while mental degradation progresses, Mrs. Weber says. Cognitive ability and physical capacity diverge significantly.
What is dementia?
Dementia
Frau Weber
Since both parents suffer from dementia, Mrs. Weber is afraid of having dementia herself. She ties her discussion of suicide to this.
Since both parents suffer from dementia, Mrs. Weber is afraid of having dementia herself. She ties her discussion of assisted suicide, which she has already brought up with her family, to this. However, she recognizes that intended plans around assisted suicide and making a final decision can diverge significantly.
Advance care planning
Dementia
Frau Weber
The patients should not cover up the impairments, says Mrs Weber.
Talking about one's situation, rather than covering up the impairments, helps everyone involved respond better, Mrs. Weber finds.
Recommendations of the patients
Dementia
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