Dignity work of older women caring for a husband with dementia at home

Abstract

In this study, we explored perceptions of dignity, and sources preserving dignity of six older Norwegian women caring for a home-dwelling husband with dementia. Through hermeneutic interpretation of in-depth interviews, “having personal integrity,” “mastering everyday life,” and “giving of one self” were identified as crucial intrapersonal aspects of dignity – while “acknowledging worthiness and uniqueness of each human being” was found to be an essential interpersonal aspect. Nine dignity-preserving sources identified suggests that the wives engaged in “dignity work” to preserve their own dignity as a caregiver, as well as to safeguard the dignity of their husbands who were vulnerable to dignity loss.