在宅認知症高齢者の家族介護者の介護経験を通した気付き

在宅認知症高齢者の家族介護者は，介護するうえでさまざまな経験をしながら介護を継続している．その現場で起こっている現象に着目した報告は，未だ嚆矢の段階といえる．そこで，認知症高齢者を抱える家族の介護経験を通した気付きを明らかにするために，質的因子探索的に分析を行った．「認知症の人と家族の会A 県支部」会員の家族介護者７０人から半構成的質問紙に対して回答が得られた．その結果，【制度の活用と課題】【患者の交流の場拡充の必要性】【認知症の啓蒙活動充実の必要性】【認知症や介護制度に対する自分の知識不足】【金銭的負担の大きさ】【周囲の協力の必要性】の６カテゴリーを抽出した．家族介護者の気付きを分析し考察した結果，満足して介護制度を活用している半面，制度の課題についても，気付きを持っていた．また，自己の知識不足も含めて社会の理解の重要性も必要であると感じていた．さらに，認知症の本人の交流の場などの充実が重要であるとも気付いていた．やはり，介護は経済的にも負担が大きいが，周囲に理解してもらい協力を得ることが大切であるということに気付いていた．

As indicated by the referring to family care givers as“second patients”, family members are known to be providing nursing care while bearing various latent burdens.
However, reports focusing on events that occur in the care setting are still only in the initial stages. Therefore, a qualitative factor exploratory analysis was conducted by focusing on findings based on the experiences of caregivers in order to identify thoughts and impressions obtained through the experience of providing care of family members caring for elderly dementia patients. The analysis was targeted at ７０ members of the“A Prefecture Branch of a Dementia Patient and Family Member Group”from whom replies were obtained to a semi-structured questionnaire. As a result, ６ categories were extracted from the replies, consisting of“use of programs”,“enhancement of opportunities for exchanges among patients”, “substantiation of dementia educational activities”,“regrets over lack of knowledge”,“monetary burden” and“cooperation of others”. As a result of analyzing and discussing the thoughts of family members from the viewpoint of findings obtained through the providing of care, it was found that the thoughts of family members regarding dementia programs are complex, and consist of numerous thoughts, including those indicating satisfaction as well as calling for improvements. However, the respondents also felt a need to place importance on social understanding, including an awareness of their own lack of knowledge. On the other hand, the respondents were also aware of the importance of providing greater opportunities for exchanges among patients themselves. In addition, although the providing of care is also associated with a considerable financial burden, it was also found that obtaining the understanding and cooperation of others in the community is also important.