Rituals of visiting people with dementia in residential care

Abstract

Objectives : Visiting a family member with dementia in residential care can be an unpredictable and stressful experience, particularly in the early days of admission and little is known of how carers lessen their distress during this time. Method : A qualitative study of 25 family carers was carried out in which the carers were interviewed on three occasions for more than a year from shortly after their relative entering residential care. Three carer focus groups were also undertaken. Results : Many family carers developed routines in their visiting that indicated five different forms of ritual: repetitive visiting patterns, formalised elements to visits, symbolic caregiving, reward giving and visit reframing. These routines helped carers manage the experience of visiting. From the accounts of family members, residential staff often seemed unaware of the significance of the rituals and unknowingly discouraged them. Conclusion : These findings suggest that visiting involves complex processes that are insufficiently understood and their value underestimated. Strategies are discussed for assisting family carers to sustain their visiting practices. Further research is needed in this area to provide guidance for family members and those working in residential care. Key words: Dementia, ritual, residential care, caregiving, visiting, relationships, communication