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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Spousal relationships in which one partner has early cognitive problems | | Author(s) | Helena M Prakke |
| Journal title | Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice, vol 11, no 2, March 2012 |
| Pages | pp 199-215 |
| Source | http://dem.sagepub.com/ |
| Keywords | Married couples ; Dementia ; Cognitive impairment ; Memory disorders ; Diagnosis ; Personal relationships. |
| Annotation | The purpose of this literature review was to provide an overview of research on the lived experiences of older married couples in which one partner had early cognitive problems. Nineteen core studies were identified. It appeared that couples first experienced forgetfulness as something normal for old age. However if symptoms became too great the couples would go and search for meaning. Through medical assessment the affected spouse would be diagnosed as either non-demented or demented. Both situations were experienced as hard and worrisome. Even if diagnosed with non-dementia, the couple remained confused about what was going on and how to anticipate the future. In spite of the enormous impact of early cognitive problems on the relationship, both partners still seemed able to contribute to the quality of it and had few reciprocity issues. How couples differ and what this means for the experience of early cognitive problems remains largely unexplored. No prospective research was found about spousal couples living with cognitive problems before assessment and diagnosis. Studies that looked at this period generally did so retrospectively and paid little attention to the individuality of the relationship. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-120710005 A |
| Classmark | SM: EA: E4: EH: LK7: DS |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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