“Her World Gets Smaller and Smaller With Nothing To Look Forward To” Dimensions of Social Inclusion and Exclusion Among Rural Dementia Care Networks

Authors

  • Dorothy Forbes
  • Catherine Ward-Griffin University of Western Ontario
  • Marita Kloseck University of Western Ontario
  • Marissa Mendelsohn University of Western Ontario
  • Oona St-Amant University of Western Ontario
  • Ryan DeForge University of Western Ontario
  • Kristine Clark Director of Nursing Care, The Village of Glendale Crossing, London, Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v11i2.18

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to critique the nature of rural dementia care from the perspectives of persons with dementia, their family caregivers and home care providers through a social inclusion/exclusion lens. A critical gerontology approach within a human rights framework (Townsend, 2006) was used. Three rural dementia care networks were included consisting of persons with dementia (n=3), spouse caregivers (n=3), adult children (n=9), grandchildren (n=2) and home care providers (n=3). Thematic analysis (Lubrosky, 1994) revealed three overarching inclusion/exclusion themes. Members of the dementia care network were being denied and afforded opportunities with respect to: (i) experiencing quality relationships among network members; (ii)  having a voice in dementia care decisions; and (iii)  participating in care, social, and work activities. This study contributes evidence that challenges the myth of the idyllic nature of rural places. Findings revealed the diversity of lived experiences within dementia care network members who described both positive (e.g., close community ties, life-long work opportunities) and negative (e.g., stigma of dementia, dangers of rural setting) aspects of the link between living in a rural setting and living with dementia. 

Author Biographies

  • Dorothy Forbes
    Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing
  • Catherine Ward-Griffin, University of Western Ontario
    Professor, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Marita Kloseck, University of Western Ontario
    Associate Professor, School of Health Studies, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Marissa Mendelsohn, University of Western Ontario
    Previous CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Oona St-Amant, University of Western Ontario
    Doctoral Student, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Ryan DeForge, University of Western Ontario
    Doctoral Candidate, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Kristine Clark, Director of Nursing Care, The Village of Glendale Crossing, London, Ontario
    Director of Nursing Care, The Village of Glendale Crossing, London, Ontario

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Published

2011-10-05

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Section

Articles