Table 2.

Coding tree.

Category	Subcategories	Themes
1. Experiencing changes in personal life and coping with changes in life	Changes in cognitive abilities	Performing less well in familiar activities Memory problems Orientation problems Difficulties in following and participating in a conversation
	Changes in emotions	Feeling of sadness Feeling insecure Feeling anxious Feeling of not being understood by others Feeling of loneliness
	Loss of familiar roles	Changes in the parenting role Changes in marital relationship
	Loss of autonomy and self-determination	Not being left alone Be told what to do Not being involved in decision making Being a burden to others Being dependant on others Immobility due to the loss of driver’s licence
	Loss of social contacts	Not being invited to events any more by friends Seeing less of the family Feeling of exclusion
	Adaptive coping strategies	Understanding the caregiver’s reaction and decision-making Asking others for support
	Non-adaptive coping strategies	Avoidance of familiar situations Withdrawal from familiar situations Denial of symptoms and changes due to disease
2. Retaining a sense of usefulness	Experiencing social participation	Importance of making oneself useful again Being part of something
	Experiencing a sense of self-worth	Feeling of being needed Feeling of closeness
3. Feeling empowered	Proudly recalling lifetime achievements	Bringing up children Performance in their job Performance in a hobby
	Proud of accomplishments in the present life	Trying new things Helping the family Being supportive of other people with dementia
	Being in control	Actively seeking and accepting help Preparing oneself for specific situations
	Experiencing a sense of self-worth	Being needed Being valued Feeling one’s identity and self-cohesion Feeling of normality and respect when meeting other people with dementia