The lived experiences of dementia in married couple relationships.

Background and purpose There are a growing number of couples who become affected by dementia as one partner develops the condition while the other becomes a carer. However, our knowledge about the experiences of couples affected by dementia is limited. Very little knowledge about the impact of dementia on couples has been gained in previous research. The aim of this study was to explore the dyadic perspective of dementia within a couple relationship.

METHODOLOGY: Six couples were interviewed about their experience of living with dementia. Interview transcripts were subjected to interpretive phenomenological analysis to identify themes across participants' accounts.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The analysis revealed three themes: (i) maintaining a bond, (ii) change and adjustment, and (iii) the challenge of coping. The results highlight the importance of studying the dyadic perspective and including people with dementia in research. Couples experienced an enduring commitment to one another as they adjusted to life with dementia.