Dignity humiliation as experienced by wives caring for a home-dwelling husband with dementia

Abstract

In this study, we explored key sources that led wives who care for their husbands with dementia at home to experience dignity humiliation – an issue that affects the well-being of women around the world. Through hermeneutic interpretation of in-depth interviews, three key sources of this were identified: interpersonal experiences of people’s indifference, curiosity and disrespectful attitudes; interpersonal experiences of limited access to healthcare services and incompassionate treatment by healthcare professionals, and; intrapersonal experiences of self-deprecation. Knowledge of key sources leading to dignity humiliation can be used to improve interdisciplinary healthcare practices and policy development, specifically relating to this group of caregivers.