Social care provision

This paper discusses the experiences of dementia family caregivers in Malta. The study design was essentially exploratory as this is the first funded social research on dementia in the island of Malta. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in October 2008 with 17 caregivers. Identification of caregivers was through their relatives’ attendance at a hospital based outpatient memory clinic. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and when required, phrases were translated from Maltese to English.

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the barriers and enablers to working together in social care, focusing on the experiences of carers and practitioners.

This paper critically examines the trend within dementia care to focus either on people with dementia or their informal carer. Attention is given to the alliances and collusions that may develop within triads comprising people with dementia, their carers and dementia care practitioners and the implications for this upon the distribution of power. The paper outlines an inclusive model of dementia care in which the needs of the person with dementia, family carers and the dementia care practitioner are understood in terms of inclusion.

A national study of patients with motor neurone disease (MND) and their carers was conducted in Scotland in late 1996. A questionnaire covering areas such as: use of medical, social and voluntary services; use of or waiting for specialised equipment; satisfaction with provided services; and standard demographic data was used in face-to-face interviews conducted by the four Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association care advisers. The care advisers also assessed the respondent’s level of impairment, using a standard instrument: the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Severity Scale (ALSSS).

Hampshire: Alzheimer Cafe UK – a new approach to support for people with dementia and their carers – has been launched in Hampshire. Kandy Redwood explains.

The White Paper Valuing People said the aim for people with learning disability should be choice of where and how you live. This is rarely the experience to date. A publication has been written for family carers, social workers and others who want to find out more about the various housing and support options for people with learning disabilities. It explains the choices, how to go about getting housing and what support people can find. Six individuals and their families allowed us to describe their different ways of creating housing and support arrangements.

Despite the acknowledged increase in the number of older people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in the UK, the age-related health and social care needs of this population have yet to be fully understood and addressed. Although there is some evidence of positive development, the current picture of service provision is characterized by fragmentation and limited choice of resources and specialist care. Policy aims are variably met and inconsistently applied.

This online guide looks at how social care services can improve access to adults with autism. It is based on research that explores the barriers to services experienced by people with autism. It covers people with autism, whether or not they also have a learning disability. The main sections of the guide cover: awareness raising; acceptability and accessibility; joint working; transitions; early intervention and prevention; personalising services; and carers. The guide suggests ways services can improve, identifying how best to meet the goals of the government's autism strategy.

In the first of two articles about developing dementia services in India, Diana Kerr presents an overview of the country and describes two specific projects.