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The oldest carers: A narrative review and synthesis of the experiences of carers aged over 75 years

As populations age, numbers of older carers are increasing. These carers play a vital role in supporting others, often partners or spouses with dementia.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:09

Dementia: Supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care

This guideline covers preventing, diagnosing, assessing and managing dementia in health and social care, and includes recommendations on Alzheimer’s disease. It aims to improve care for people with dementia by promoting accurate diagnosis and the most effective interventions, and improving the organisation of services.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:09

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of support and services to informal carers of older people: a review of the literature prepared for the Audit Commission

This literature review is concerned with the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of support and services to informal carers of older people in England and Wales. It has been undertaken by the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the request of the Audit Commission (the Commission). The review is divided into three parts. It begins with an introduction summarising key issues that need to be considered when looking at the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of services for informal carers.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:09

Awareness and understanding of dementia in African/Caribbean and South Asian families

The objective of this study was to explore awareness, recognition and understanding of dementia symptoms in families of South Asian and African/Caribbean descent in the UK. In-depth, semistructured interviews were carried out with South Asian and African/Caribbean carers. Interview transcripts were analysed by coding the data into themes and investigating links between them, using the constant comparison approach of grounded theory. Thirty carers of a person with dementia of South Asian and African/Caribbean heritage were interviewed.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:09

Working with older family carers and relatives with learning disabilities

The new white paper in England is an opportunity for services to stop and think about their relationship with families. This article looks specifically at the situation of older family carers and why services often fail to 'make sense' to them. It shows that these families often do not get the support they need, leaving them in great anxiety about the future. Examples are given of practical initiatives that have worked successfully with older families.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:08

Money for old hope

A blow to spending on social services threatens a deterioration in quality of life for carers and users, but a new grant could protect this vulnerable group and ease some of the pressures on the NHS. [Journal abstract]

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:08

'He will finish up caring for me' : people with learning disabilities and mutual care

Until recently, the carer's perspective has dominated research on families who include someone with a learning disability and recent legislation has underlined the carer's rights. Previous research has found that some more able people with learning disabilities were very aware of their parents' growing needs, and were taking on responsibilities within the family to help and support their carer/parents. However, recent legislation still dichotomizes family members into carers and cared-for people.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:08

Attachment representations in people with dementia and their carers: implications for well-being within the dyad

Objectives: The process of developing and living with dementia may activate attachment feelings and behaviours in people with dementia (PwD) and their carers. By obtaining information from both PwD and carer, we aimed to provide information on the nature and concordance of attachment patterns within the dyad and to examine the relative contribution of attachment representations in PwD and carers to the well-being of both parties.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:08

We share the care: family caregivers' experiences of their older relative receiving home support services

Although both family care and home support are considered essential components of home-based health-care, the experiences of family caregivers who have a relative in receipt of home support services are not well understood. Little is known about what aspects of home support services assist family caregivers or hinder them in their caregiving. This study examines family member’s experiences of the home support services received by their elderly relatives.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:08

A systematic review of interventions for elder abuse

The purpose of this study was to use rigorous systematic review methods to summarise the effectiveness of interventions for elder abuse. Only eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence regarding the recurrence of abuse following intervention was limited, but the interventions for which this outcome was reported failed to reduce, and may even have increased, the likelihood of recurrence. Elder abuse interventions had no significant effect on case resolution and at-risk carer outcomes, and had mixed results regarding professional knowledge and behaviour related to elder abuse.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:08