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Barriers to community support for the dementia carer: a qualitative study
Author(s) -
Bruce David G.,
Paterson Alison
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(200005)15:5<451::aid-gps143>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - dementia , gerontology , qualitative research , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , disease , sociology , social science , pathology
Objectives To understand how carers of dementia sufferers gain access to community support and to determine potential barriers for carers. Design Qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews of carers after an Aged Care Assessment Team intervention. Setting Australian metropolitan Aged Care Assessment Team. Subjects 24 live‐in carers of dementia sufferers. Main outcome measures Carers' subjective experience of sources of stress in their care of the dementia sufferer focusing on interactions with the general practitioner and formal community support agencies. Results Most carers suffered high levels of stress, mainly due to behaviour disturbances and care needs of the dementia sufferers. Problems with health care agencies were also reported by a majority of the carers to be contributors to their distress. General practitioners were perceived to have referred dementia sufferers late for community care, despite the carer having experienced difficulties for a considerable time period. Carers also complained that too little information was provided about the diagnosis of dementia, how to deal with problem behaviours and how to access support services before and after the assessment procedure. Conclusions Problems with the interaction between the carer and the general practitioner appear to be important in delaying access to appropriate support and information. Earlier recognition of carers' problems, the provision of better education and earlier access to support services may lessen the degree of stress experienced by carers. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.