Abstract

This report is part of research concerned with how spousal carers manage communications with their cared-for partners when living with dementia, and how management strategies change as the dementia progresses. Eleven couples were involved in a four-year longitudinal study using semi-structured interviews at home and participant observation within a creative arts programme. This case study focuses upon one interview with one couple, where both partners were present. It is a demonstration of the way that the caring partner negotiated the difficult situation of being interviewed with the disruptive presence of her cared-for partner. It highlights how the caring partner tried to manage the interview in order to participate in the research. The findings showed how the caring partner divided her time between paying attention to the researcher, as researcher and guest in their house, and to her spouse who was joining in the three-way conversation

The conversational strategies and amount of time  speaking differed between all three participants, with the interviewer struggling to ask pertinent questions. The caring partner reacted to her spouse’s comments and questions, but also responded to the interviewer by explaining what she thought was happening when her spouse talked, and answered questions. She adopted multiple roles in order to reassure, give information, and answer questions from her cared-for partner in order to manage communications. On the other hand, the spouse with dementia interrupted, changed topics, asked questions, and confabulated at length.

There are also implications for using semi-structured interviews, as the situation affected the dynamics within the spousal relationship, and between the interviewer and the caring partner. 

Keywords

Dementia, communications, carer, interviews, case study, Interviews, Case study, Carer, Communications

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