What it means to be an adult child of a person with dementia

Figures & data

Table I Examples from the structural analysis of meaning units and their corresponding condensation

Meaning units	Condensation
He went to bed when eh … well early in the evening and was up during the night and the neighbors started calling. I had no idea because I was there during the day … and then she told me on one evening she called that dad went down to her and I had been home maybe a couple of hours, and at that time everything was ok.	He went to bed early and was up at nights. I had no idea until the neighbors called. Everything was fine during the day when I was there.
Then she didn't know where she was, if she walked the same way every time it was fine … then she found her way home…. So it was awful, it was really awful. You went completely blank. I'm lucky I have my husband … because every time the phone rang I thought—My God what has happened, is she run over or what?!	She did not know where she was if she did not walk the same way. It was awful, every time the phone rang you expected the worst.
No, but it's kind of odd this … losing your mother … and becoming mother for you own mother in a way, and mother to your father as well sort of. I can say that it brings matters to its head.	It is weird, losing your mother and becoming a parent to your parents.

Table II Structural analysis

Subthemes	Themes
Feeling powerless	Being frustrated
Being angry and bitter
Wanting to disconnect
Striving for control
Feeling resigned
Feeling abandoned	Feelings of loss
Wanting to connect
Feelings of sorrow
Being compelled to take responsibility	Being burdened
Feeling worn out
Being worried
Wishing well
Being the parent
Having a bad conscience

Subthemes, themes, and main theme that emerged from the narratives of the adult children.