高次脳機能障害をもつ高齢者の在宅生活における体験

Experience at Home for the Elderly with Higher Brain Dysfunction

抄録

　本研究の目的は，高次脳機能障害をもつ高齢者が在宅生活においてどのような体験をしているのかを明らかにすることである．参加者は，高次脳機能障害を発症し入院治療の後，在宅で生活する65歳以上の高齢者11人である．参加者に対して半構造化面接を実施し，質的記述的に分析した．その結果，【できていたことができなくなり歯がゆい】【身体の衰えを実感する】【周りの人に理解してもらえない】【今後のことを想像して憂慮する】【記録することを続ける】【いまの自分にできる対処をする】【自分に価値を感じる】【身近な人を気兼ねなく頼る】【目標に向かってあきらめない】の9つのカテゴリーが抽出された．高次脳機能障害をもちながら在宅で生活する高齢者は，いままでできていたことができなくなり自信を喪失しやすく，社会的にも精神的にも孤立に陥りやすい状況にあるといえる．看護職は高次脳機能障害をもつ高齢者のいまできていることに目を向けて強みを生かせるように関わる必要がある．

　The purpose of this study is to clarify what kind of experiences elderly with higher brain dysfunction have in their home life. The subjects are 11 elderly people over 65 years old who developed higher brain dysfunction and lived at home after hospitalization. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with these subjects and the obtained data was analyzed qualitatively and descriptively. As a result, nine categories were extracted such as [I am frustrated that I can't do what I could do before] [I realize my body is weakening] [I have communication problems with the people around me] [I imagine my future and have anxiety] [I continue to keep records on my condition] [I cope with what I can do now] [I feel valued] [I rely on people close to me without hesitation] [I never give up on achieving my goals]Elderly with higher brain dysfunction who live at home tend to lose their self esteem because they cannot do what they could do before, and are more likely to fall into social and mental isolation. Nurses need to focus on what elderly with higher brain dysfunction can currently do and encourage them to utilize their skills.