Aim: The present study aimed to explore the impact that changes in behavioural symptoms of
people living with dementia have on professional caregiver and resident relationships.
Method: A total of 21 interviews were carried out with professional caregivers of people living
with dementia. A grounded theory approach was used to investigate everyday experiences of
provision of professional care in dementia settings, focussing specifically on the effect of behavioural
change on such relationships.
Results: A core category emerged from this analysis: ‘Developing behaviour in dementia impacts
relationships on a personal and professional level’.
Discussion: Professionals have recognized as part of their everyday practice an eventual deterioration
in relationships between themselves as professional caregivers and the residents, but
also between the residents and their family members and among residents themselves.
Importantly, understanding patients’ behaviour and behavioural change was identified as a crucial
factor to achieve and sustain good relationships between professionals and residents suffering
with dementia.
Keywords
grounded theory, dementia, caregiver–resident relationships, behavioural changes
Corresponding