ELDERLY FAMILY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DEMENTIA IN WONOKERTO VILLAGE, TURI DISTRICT, SLEMAN REGENCY, YOGYAKARTA

Abstract

Background: According to WHO, an elderly person is someone who has reached the age of 60 to 65 years and over. The development of the number of elderly people in Indonesia in 2020 reached 9.93 percent. The incidence of dementia generally increases with age. Dementia is a syndrome that characterized by a progressive and persistent decline in cognitive function. In the condition of dementia, there is a decrease in the independence and dependence of the elderly on the productive population, one of which is the family.

Objective: This study aims to describe the knowledge of elderly families about dementia in Wonokerto Village, Turi Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta.

Methods: The subjects of this study were elderly families who cared for and lived at home with the elderly in Wonokerto The research was conducted using a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews. The sample was taken by purposive sampling with a total of ten research subjects. The interview transcript was analyzed using the thematic framework.

Results: Three research subjects with the latest high school education and experience caring for the elderly more than ten years were able to answer questions about dementia knowledge well. The remaining seven research subjects did not know the knowledge related to dementia or answered undecided.

Conclusion: The results showed that most of the research subjects still do not understand about dementia knowledge such as the definition, types, examination, and management of dementia. While most research subjects have sufficient knowledge related to elderly support, how to care for the elderly with dementia.