Repositori URV

Identifier: imarina:9138972

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9138972

Authors:
Riquelme-Galindo JGarcía-Sanjuán SLillo-Crespo MMartorell-Poveda MA

Abstract:
© 2020, Universidad de La Sabana. All rights reserved. Objective: To analyze the meaning of dementia by those affected by it, and to give them a voice. Material and methods: Descriptive phenomenology through interviews with people of both genders who are over 50 years old and living in Tarragona (Spain), with a diagnosis of mild or moderate dementia, mainly related to Alzheimer’s disease. Results: Three main themes emerged: 1) normalization of memory loss in early stages as part of the natural aging process; 2) self-awareness of progressive memory decline, which is concealed from others, and 3) adaptation processes and strategies to coexist with their condition after diagnosis. Conclusions: The most evident features were the lack of specialized infrastructures within the health system in terms of care, prevention programs, and early detection.