The Love Chapter:The Meaning Of Caring For The Elderly With Dementia To Family Caregivers

In this paper, the main aim is to explore the meaning of caring for the elderly with dementia, according to the verbal description of family caregivers. This research mainly focused on three questions: What were the family caregiver’s experiences in taking care of the elderly with dementia? How did they experience? What’s the meaning of the experience from their perspective?The present study used phenomenology research method by means of “semi-structured in-depth interviews”approach, purposive sampling to interview nine elderly family caregivers to discuss the life experience and the inner world. Analyzing the contents of life world and the accompanying meaning based on their self-narrative.The study findings: 1. When the attachment formed, the feelings of care are intimacy and happiness, not obligation. 2. Love and affection is important. 3. Caregivers suffered from mental torture and felled exhausted when faced the dementia elder’s mental situation. 4. Understanding and obedience is the best choice when caring for the dementia elder. 5. Time, money and powerful psychological bearing ability are three factors which care based on. 6. Adult child caregivers face the situation of role reversal. 7. The brothers are special groups for the caregivers. They are the source of conflict and support. 8. Family caregivers try to catch a break. 9. The current social service system for the old cannot meet the needs of the dementia elder and their caregivers. And ultimately I concluded that caring for the dementia elder is a spiritual practice for the family caregivers, only the stronger can overcome. It needs patience, sacrifice, wisdom and love.This paper gives suggestions from two aspects. On the one hand, to pay more attention to caregivers’ psychological construction. On the other hand, to develop community service that cater to the needs of the dementia elder and their family caregivers.