CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA: EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN THE TEMA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to explore and describe the psychological, physical, financial and social experiences of family caregivers in caring for patients with dementia using the qualitative approach in the Tema Metropolis. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of ten participants who were family caregivers caring for patients diagnosed with dementia. Data was collected by audiotaped interview and transcribed verbatim, coded and data analysis was done using thematic content analysis. Four major themes and twenty-six sub-themes emerged. The family caregivers went through frustration, worry, demanding caregiving role, physical and verbal abuse by the care recipients. There was also early retirement and loss of job leading to insufficient finances and loneliness, which some caregivers referred to as imprisonment. In spite of all these problems, the caregivers expressed a feeling of satisfaction in their caregiving role. Based on these findings, it was recommended that policy makers must ensure that all the psychiatric units of the Regional Hospitals together with their community psychiatric units in the country have trained clinical psychologists to aid in the counselling of family caregivers of patients with dementia. Furthermore, they should make available vehicles and motor cycles to enable the community psychiatric nurses deliver care to dementia patients in the comfort of their homes. This will decrease the frustration level of family caregivers and also gain the opportunity to educate the community about dementia, early detection and management.