A couplehood typology for spouses of institutionalized persons with Alzheimer's disease: Perceptions of "we"-"I"

A qualitative analysis of 68 community-dwelling spouses of institutionalize d patients with Alzheimer's disease was conducted. The goal was to ascertai n to what degree they perceived themselves as married. Five groups represen ting different degrees of couplehood emerged. Ranging from strong couplehoo d to no couplehood, groups were given,en the following terms: "Til Death Do Us Parts," "We, but...," "Husbandless Wives/Wifeless Husbands," "Becoming an I," and "Unmarried Marrieds. " Ways to interpret this typology and impli cations for both further research and practitioners are described.