Living with stable MCI: Experiences among 17 individuals evaluated at a memory clinic

Abstract

The participants' experiences of living with MCI indicate that issues and changes in life situations such as long-term stress, retirement, loss of relatives, perceived heritability of dementia, needs to be understood in the context of the individual's understanding and interpretation of their everyday cognitive functioning. Also, supportive long-term contacts with the specialist care unit were vital for creating a personal understanding of MCI. Addressing the intra-personal dynamics of cognitive functioning in the boundary between normal and pathological cognitive aging can also improve diagnostic accuracy.

Clinical characteristics and quality of life of older adults with cognitive impairment in Macao

“…major medical conditions). Owing to the personal suffering related to decline in attention, memory, language, and thinking in the context of cognitive impairment, cognitively impaired older adults were expected to have a lower QOL, 54 which was confirmed by this study.…”

Changing everyday activities and technology use in mild cognitive impairment

“…The withdrawal from complex activities in MCI has been observed as generally being a slow process, often caused by a combination of life events, where discontinued activities sometimes are intended to be resumed again later at an anticipated improvement (De Vriendt, et al, 2012). At the same time worries about future loss of valued occupations are common in persons with MCI (Berg, Wallin, Nordlund & Johansson, 2013). Avoiding certain occupations, as well as preparing for them days ahead, have been described as self-initiated strategies to reduce MCI-related stress (Berg, et al, 2013).…”

“…At the same time worries about future loss of valued occupations are common in persons with MCI (Berg, Wallin, Nordlund & Johansson, 2013). Avoiding certain occupations, as well as preparing for them days ahead, have been described as self-initiated strategies to reduce MCI-related stress (Berg, et al, 2013). Other adaptation strategies used to enable continued valued occupations are performing them in an easier way, enlisting help from other persons, and using external aids such as memo notes (De Vriendt, et al, 2012).…”

Participation in physical and social activities among home-dwelling persons with dementia – experiences of next of kin

“…This shows that it is important for a person with dementia to have routines in everyday life. The studies by Berg et al16 and Cedervall and Åberg15 support the idea that routines give structure to the day and that the person with dementia usually prefers the same routines day after day 15…”

“…Berg et al16 highlighted that supportive long-term contacts were important for people with dementia in order to help them gain a personal understanding of their own disease. In the present study, the dementia sufferers met the same personnel each time they attended the center.…”