Lived experience of spousal transition within dementia and relocation to long term care, The

The purpose of this project was to gain understanding of the transition experience of older couples when one of the partners has been diagnosed with dementia, the couple can no longer continue their life together in their own home, and the partner with dementia has relocated to long term care. During this phenomenological study, spousal caregivers were interviewed and asked to describe the experiences of their partners’ relocation to long term care. In the later stages of dementia, the perspective of the spousal caregiver is essential for understanding the related transitions. The caregivers were asked to share their experience, their perspective of their partners experience and their experience as couple units. Spousal caregivers described their lives leading up to the need for relocation, managing relocation, and adapting to life after relocation. Caregivers reported individual, yet interdependent challenges that they experienced as well as their strengths and abilities to cope during the transitions. The findings from this study will contribute to the current literature informing health care practice and policy in supporting couples’ and their choices throughout the trajectory of living with dementia. The application of this knowledge within multiagency and interdisciplinary fields will better serve each of the partners within the couple, and of the couple as the unit of care.