You are here

  1. Home
  2. English

English

Making it work: good practice with young carers and their families

The needs of young carers and their families are a multi-agency responsibility that crosses both adults’ and children and families’ services. This practice guide is therefore aimed at all agencies that have contact with young carers and the people for whom they care. It brings together much of the thinking and experience behind the good practice developed so far and will provide a useful starting point for those new to this area of work and serve as a development resource for the more experienced.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Carer participation in mental health service delivery

There is increasing emphasis on enhancing consumer and carer participation in the planning and provision of mental health services. However, health professionals, consumers, and carers have different perceptions about what constitutes optimal care; identifying, negotiating, and meeting their respective needs can be challenging. The aim of the paper is to highlight the challenges of facilitating carer participation in daily practice and emphasise the broader issues that would benefit from more extensive discussion among health professionals.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Does every child really matter?

The title of the new children's green paper "Every Child Matters" implies inclusiveness, and the paper does indeed highlight a range of client groups with specific needs, suggesting that all children are covered. Asks whether the commitment to inclusiveness is genuine or merely a token gesture. Looks at 5 areas where more could have been done: children entering the country, parents and carers of disabled children, young carers, children with parents in jail, and improving fostering and adoption services. (Quotes from original text)

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Informal carers in cancer contexts

This paper considers some of the challenges involved in studying informal carers in cancer contexts. It reviews current knowledge by examining, first, the dominant psycho-oncological research tradition that focuses on psychological distress among carers and, second, the more recent sociologically informed body of work examining what carers actually do and the contribution that they make to patient care. The authors suggest that this second sociologically informed approach offers an important counter-weight to the psycho-oncological perspective.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Clinical notes for informal carers in palliative care: recommendations from a random patient file audit

Although palliative care aims to support family members and informal carers, current evidence suggests that high levels of unmet need persist, and that this population is challenging to work with. This study aimed to 1) measure the proportion of patients that have an informal carer, 2) describe the clinical notes data on existing needs and coping, 3) measure the completeness of assessment data recording, 4) appraise the utility of existing informal carers’ sections in the patient files, and 5) make recommendations for improvement. An audit was conducted reviewing 145 closed patient files.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

The relative importance of factors affecting the choice of bathing devices

There is only a small evidence base to draw upon when choosing assistive devices. Evaluations such as those funded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency,* Department of Health, United Kingdom, generate data from which evidence-based guidelines can be compiled, but it is often difficult to determine the relative importance of the various factors involved.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Carers' perceptions of community occupational therapy: short report

This paper reports on the experience of informal carers whose family members have received occupational therapy. The qualitative study focused on one city. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six carers and the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The carers were generally satisfied with the occupational therapy that the care recipient received. The carers felt involved in the occupational therapy, although some had a lengthy wait for this.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Optimising primary care for people with dementia

This review considers key areas in primary care regarding the diagnosis of dementia. Issues surrounding assessment, policy and incentives are considered. In addition, the relevance of non-medication approaches for dementia in primary care, which aim to enhance or maintain quality of life by maximising psychological and social function in the context of existing disabilities, is deliberated.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Quality of life : impact of chronic illness on the partner

Patient quality of life is an increasingly important outcome measure in medicine and healthcare. It is now widely used in clinical trials and in patient management for assessing morbidity and the impact of treatment. In the past, quality of life studies focused almost exclusively on changes in the quality of life of patients, but increasing attention is now being paid to the impact of chronic disease on carers.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Identifying the needs of carers in mental health services

Research to identify and assess informal carers of people with a mental illness cared for by the Gloucester Assertive Community Treatment Team and to examine their needs. Carers were assessed using a standardised care programme approach and the help they provided, the effect on their lives and the problems encountered were examined. 

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:16

Page 81 of 133