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Family carers

Good communication with family of people with dementia at end of life: reflections of an Admiral Nurse

As the incidence of dementia is increasing, so health and social care professionals are facing a challenge to deliver good quality end-of-life care. Historically, it is not an area that has been afforded much attention until recently, but interventions such as Admiral Nursing are well placed and equipped to work with and support families at this time. It is essential, in supporting a family to live as well as they can following a diagnosis of dementia, to facilitate dying well with or from dementia.

Wed, 04/03/2019 - 09:52

Benefits and burdens: family caregivers' experiences of assistive technology (AT) in everyday life with persons with young-onset dementia (YOD)

Background: People with dementia and their family caregivers may benefit from assistive technology (AT), but knowledge is scarce about family carers’ (FC) experiences and involvement in the use of AT in everyday life. Aim: To examine the FC roles and experiences with AT as means of supporting people with young onset-dementia (YOD). Method: Qualitative interview study with follow-up design.

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 13:46

Meeting the needs of carers of people at the end of life

Carers have a vital role in end of life care in all settings. They are essential in enabling people to live at home at the end of their lives. Carers give and receive care, and have a range of support needs related to this complex role. This article explores the context of caring at the end of life and considers the experience of carers, in particular those who have a non-professional and unpaid relationship with someone who is at the end of life, and the support they require.

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 12:54

Providing care for a person with late-stage dementia at home: What are carers' experiences?

Background It is widely reported that carers who provide care for a family member with dementia endure physical and psychological burdens. Not only do they fulfil an important role for the person with dementia but also for the wider society. This study aims to explore the experiences of carers who provide end-of-life care for a person with late-stage dementia at home. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 current carers and 6 past carers of a family member with late-stage dementia.

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 10:48

Carers’ experiences of group therapeutic songwriting: An interpretive phenomenological analysis

Supporting carers of people living with dementia to live happy and healthy lives is of international importance. This study aimed to explore carers’ experiences of participating in a creative group songwriting process. Four carers (2 male and 2 female) of people living with dementia participated in four therapeutic group songwriting sessions. Facilitated by two music therapists and support staff, the participants co-created a song that reflected their carer experiences allowing positive and negative perspectives to be represented in the song.

Fri, 03/29/2019 - 11:59

"Never at ease" - family carers within integrated palliative care: a multinational, mixed method study

Background: Family carers manage a wide range of responsibilities in the lives and care of patients receiving palliative care. They fulfil multiple roles and perform activities within different settings. This has immediate consequences on family carers’ every-day lives. According to literature, family carers in palliative care are both part of the formal and informal care network, but also persons in need of support.

Fri, 03/29/2019 - 11:49

Admiral Nurses delivering workplace clinics for family carers: Innovative practice

Dementia UK and The Charity for Civil Servants teamed up to test the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a work-based Admiral Nurse clinic to support family carers during their employed working hours. This paper presents some of the learning from this innovative approach.

Fri, 03/29/2019 - 10:08

The Impact of the Physical Home Environment for Family Carers of People with Dementia: A Qualitative Study

Background : The majority of people with dementia are cared for by their families at home. This study aimed to elicit family carers' perceptions on home environmental aspects and strategies with the view to identify barriers and facilitators when caring for a person with dementia at home. Design and methods : Thirteen co-resident family carers were engaged in semi-structured in-depth walking interviews.

Thu, 03/28/2019 - 14:56

Investigating what works to support family carers of people with dementia: a rapid realist review

Introduction :Advances in longevity and medicine mean that many more people in the UK survive life-threatening diseases but are instead susceptible to life-limiting diseases such as dementia. Within the next 10 years those affected by dementia in the UK is set to rise to over 1 million, making reliance on family care of people with dementia (PWD) essential. A central challenge is how to improve family carer support to offset the demands made by dementia care which can jeopardise carers’ own health. This review investigates ‘what works to support family carers of PWD’.

Thu, 03/28/2019 - 14:08

Core elements to understand and improve coping with Parkinson's disease in patients and family carers: A focus group study

 Aims: The aim of this study were: (1) To explore the meaning that coping with Parkinson's disease has for patients and family carers; (2) To suggest the components of an intervention focused on enhancing their coping with the disease. Background: Adapting to Parkinson's disease involves going through many difficult changes; however, it may improve quality of life in patients and family carers. One of the key aspects for facilitating the psychosocial adjustment to Parkinson's disease is the strengthening of coping skills.

Thu, 03/28/2019 - 13:17