Advocating for a Parent with Dementia in a Long-term Care Facility

Abstract

Daughter caregivers of elders with dementia become their parents' advocates over time. This role takes on even greater importance when one or both parents are placed in a long-term care facility. This article presents the results of a qualitative study aimed at explaining how this advocacy role evolves following institutionalization. In-depth interviews were conducted with daughters ( N = 14) of an institutionalized parent with dementia and selected using a theoretical sampling procedure. Data analysis using grounded theory revealed three interrelated processes that explain role transformation of the daughters: integration in the care setting, evaluation of quality of care, and development of trust. Implications for involving daughters as care partners in long-term care settings are offered.