Research Article

Negotiating the Joint Career: Couples Adapting to Alzheimer's and Aging in Place

Table 2

Tentative interview guide.

(A) Subjective experience

(i) When did you first realize changes in X’s memory?
(ii) Who noticed the changes first? Did you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts with the other?
(iii) Tell me about your experiences leading up to being diagnosed.
(iv) How do you define Alzheimer’s disease (AD)/mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
(v) What does AD/MCI mean to you?
(vi) What has your experience been like since the diagnosis?
(vii) What are the biggest changes that have happened in your life since the diagnosis?
(viii) How would you describe your relationship prior to diagnosis?
(ix) How, if at all, has your relationship changed since the diagnosis?

(B) Social experience

(i) How, if at all, have your interactions with others changed since diagnosis?
(ii) Tell me how you think your diagnosis affects your loved ones, if at all.

(C) Miscellaneous

(i) Are there any unexpected things that have come from your experiences with Alzheimer’s? Any “silver lining” to your situation?
(ii) How do you envision the future?