Foster home care

Background: Alzheimer's disease is commonly seen in older people in China,in particular,its prevalence reaches 5.14% in those aged over 65 years,bringing huge management burden to primary family caregivers of the patient. It has received extensive attention worldwide. Objective: To investigate the sources of management burden and major solutions among primary family caregivers of the Alzheimer's disease patient, providing a basis for further development of the family management system for such patients.

This study describes the transition towards independent living of 123 former fostered young people reared for long periods in a private French organisation, SOS Children’s Villages. Three generations of care leavers were analysed through a postal survey and interviews. Their narratives show typical pathways after leaving care. Two-thirds became independent without major problems by the age of 24–25. Analyses have shown that the absence of severe emotional and behavioural disorders, and diplomas obtained, improved their odds of becoming independent.

Reflecting dominant understandings of childhood, many researchers describe orphans as an emotional and financial cost to the households in which they live. This has created a representation of orphans as a burden, not only to their fostering household, but also to society. This article seeks to challenge this representation by exploring children's contributions to their fostering households.