Community-dwelling older adults with memory loss: needs assessment.

Objective: To identify the health-related needs of community-dwelling older adults with mild memory loss.

Design: Qualitative study using semistructured, audiotaped, face-to-face interviews and focus groups.

Setting: A large community in Newfoundland.

Participants: Twenty-two adults between the ages of 58 and 80 years.

Methods: This needs assessment used a qualitative methodology of collecting and analyzing narrative data to develop an understanding of the issues, resources, and constraints of community-dwelling older adults with mild memory loss. Data were collected through semistructured, audiotaped, face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using interpretive phenomenologic analysis.

Main Findings: Three constitutive patterns with relational themes and subthemes were identified: forgetting and remembering, normalizing yet questioning, and having limited knowledge of resources. Participants described many examples of how their daily lives were affected by forgetfulness. They had very little knowledge of resources that provided information or support. Most of the participants believed they could not discuss their memory problems with their family doctors.

Conclusion: It is important for older adults with mild memory loss to have access to resources that will assist them in understanding their condition and make them feel supported.