Overview of Coping Strategies for Caregivers of Elderly Individuals with Dementia at Senior Care Darmawan Park Sentul

Abstract

Dementia is a clinical condition that is mostly experienced by the elderly and can be identified by progressive cognitive decline that disrupts one’s ability to be independent. Elderly people with dementia require special services from others as caregivers who can provide good care in everyday life. However, caregivers often experience personal difficulties in caring for elderly people with dementia. Hence, they need strategies to deal with potential problems. This paper is a qualitative research with a case study approach. The aim of this study is to describe the coping strategies of caregivers of elderly dementia at Darmawan Park Sentul Senior Care.  The respondents of this study were two caregivers who worked for elderly people with dementia in Senior Care. Results shows that both subjects developed two coping strategies: problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.  The dominant coping strategy used by both respondents in this study was emotion-focused coping. The aspects of emotion-focused coping that are still used by both respondents are seeking social emotional support and self-control. The form of effort most often used by both respondents in dealing with their problems was telling the closest people around them, such as their family, friends, co-workers, and superiors, to get advice, attention, and suggestions.