RESPON EMOSIONAL ISTRI DALAM MENGHADAPI SUAMI DENGAN DEMENSIA: SEBUAH STUDI KASUS

Background: Dementia is the leading cause of disability and dependency in older adults globally, having a major impact on the sufferer, caregivers, family and society. Families, especially wives, who are often the primary caregivers of husbands with dementia, are particularly vulnerable to the demands of intensive care that requires substantial time and energy, even many hours a day. Objective: To identify the emotional responses felt by wives in caring for husbands with dementia. Methods: The design used was qualitative with a case study approach to obtain and understand in depth to find out the emotional responses of wives during caring for husbands with dementia. Data collection techniques used “semi-structured interviews” which have been tested on similar individuals. Data analysis used “Thematic Analysis” with a deduction analysis approach. To maintain the level of trustworthiness, triangulation and audit trail methods were used: literature and outside reviewers on verbatim data. Results: This study resulted in 2 core themes (Main theme), namely: positive emotional response and negative emotional response which is composed of 6 sub themes consisting of 12 categories, and 23 codes. Positive emotional responses include emotions such as patience, resignation and sincerity, love and compassion, while negative emotional responses include emotions of worry, sadness, and disappointment. Conclusion: Wives caring for husbands with dementia face various challenges that result in positive and negative emotional responses. However, over time and after the adaptation process, these negative emotions turn into positive emotions. Future research is expected to examine appropriate strategies to support the emotional well-being of caregivers, especially wives, involving a focused approach to their needs.