| Summary: | 博士 === 東海大學 === 社會工作學系 === 88 === Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the adjustment process and its related factors for disabled elders and their primary caregivers in urban city. Data was collected by using in-depth interviews based on grounded theory research design. Participants were chosen by theoretical sampling. A total of 12 disabled elders and 14 primary caregivers those who living in Taipei participated this study. A total of 26 cases were interviewed face-to-face.Interviews were tape-recorded, and then transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were then analyzed using the constant comparative data analysis.
A core category "living adjustment" which describes the mental process of disabled elders facing all kinds of limitations and differences in life after diseases and the disabled facts happened, emerged from the data. "Living adjustment" is a cyclic dynamic process that includes five interactive factors: detecting existing differences, generating emotional reactions, the relationship of disabled elders and their primary caregivers, the caring situation, and adopting coping strategies.
For instance, the degree of understanding the existing difference in life would influence the disabled elders'' coping strategies and following emotional reactions. If the coping strategies are effective, the disabled elders would be able to establish new life routines easier, decrease the existing life differences, and reduce negative emotional reactions.
The study suggests that those who are more able to "living adjustment" are, therefore, more able to understand and recognize the existing differences of their physical conditions, expectations, and the caring situation. Thus, they are more able to select effective strategies to help themselves to establish new life routines and have more positive emotional reactions.
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