The role of dementia training programmes in reducing care-giver burden

Family care-givers play a vital role in the support of people with dementia. In addition to opportunity costs, care-giving has been linked to a wide range of negative outcomes, including psychological disturbance, physical health problems, relationship changes and social activity restrictions (Donaldson et al, 1997). Carers identify access to information and training as an essential requirement in their struggle to continue in the care-giving role (Blackwell et al, 1992). To what extent are these training needs currently met? Despite an undoubted demand, few training initiatives exist for informal carers, or indeed for formal home care staff, a deficiency which has prompted a European Union project to develop a training package for family carers of elderly people with dementia (O'Donovan et al, 1997; Turner & Street, 1999).