'Every time I see him he's the worst he's ever been and the best he'll ever be': grief and sadness in children and young people who have a parent with dementia. (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sikes, Pat; Hall, Melanie
• Is Part Of: Mortality. Volume 22:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 338
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Grief -- dementia -- young onset dementia -- children -- young people; Thanatology -- Periodicals; Mortality -- Periodicals; Bereavement -- Periodicals; Undertakers and undertaking -- Periodicals; 304.64
• DOI: 10.1080/13576275.2016.1274297
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1357-6275

Abstract

Abstract: Research suggests that the grief experienced by the family members of persons with dementia has a distinctive nature that differentiates it from sorrow attendant on most other ill health causes. Over a variable period of time, the way in which dementia manifests in cognitive and physical changes tends to be experienced as a series of serious losses, each of which can be a source of grief leading to significant stress and emotional, mental, psychosocial and physical ill health. Research to date has focused on spouses and adult children: here we seek to add to the literature by re-presenting the grief-related perceptions and experiences of children and young people who have a parent with a young onset dementia. We draw on findings from a narrative auto/biographical investigation to describe what dementia grief was like for study participants and to make suggestions for resources and support for those in this position.