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Young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland: caring roles, ways into care and the meaning of communication
- Authors:
- LEU Agnes, FRECH Marianne, JUNG Corinna
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 26(6), 2018, pp.925-934.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Although there is already general recognition of the fact that many relatives provide unpaid care for family members, there is still little awareness that children, adolescents and young adults under 25 also provide such care. Until recently, the situation of young carers and young adult carers, as those young persons are referred to in international research, has not been in the focus of professionals, research and the public in Switzerland. Between September 2015 and October 2016, 30 interviews in seven cantons were conducted with 16 young carers aged 10–17 and 14 young adult carers aged 18–25. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed following a grounded theory approach. This paper now presents the first qualitative data on Swiss young carers and young adult carers. It explores their sociodemographic backgrounds, the nature and intensity of caring tasks they carry out, their pathways into caring as well as the role of communication with family members, extended family, professionals and peers. Our findings provide a first insight in the lives of young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland and illustrate, as well, the challenges they face. (Edited publisher abstract)
Self-efficacy and stress of staff managing challenging behaviours of people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- CUDRÉ-MAUROUX Annick
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(3), September 2011, pp.181-189.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Professional caregivers have been shown to experience high levels of stress when they have to face challenging behaviours in children with learning disabilities. The role of self-efficacy has been found to affect the stress levels of professional caregivers in such situations. This short study explored the relationship between self-efficacy and stressful situations through a qualitative research design. Semi-structured interviews were help with a small number of professional caregivers. Theoretical indicators of self-efficacy regarding particular stress stages were identified in a categorical analysis. A case study method was used to promote ecological data and enhance understanding of various influencing factors. Findings suggest the importance of adequate measures of self-efficacy regarding its usage in varying contexts. Different forms of self-efficacy related to the coping process for professional caregivers are suggested. Implications for practice are discussed.
Toward a better understanding of psychological well-being in dementia caregivers: the link between marital communication and depression
- Authors:
- BRAUN Melanie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Family Process, 49(2), June 2010, pp.185-203.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Prior research with healthy couples demonstrated an association between marital communication and the partners' psychological well-being and depressiveness respectively. In this study the relationship between caregiver depression and communication in 37 couples in which the wives care for their partners with dementia. Both non-sequential and sequential analyses indicated significant correlations between caregiver depression and marital communication quality. Findings showed that caregivers whose husbands used more positive communication reported less depression and distress. Caregiver depression was negatively correlated with rates of positive reciprocal communication indicating dependence between the couples' interaction patterns. The authors suggest that this study is one of the first to demonstrate the relevance of spousal communication in understanding distress and depression in caregivers.
Impact of COVID-19 policy responses on live-in care workers in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
- Authors:
- LEIBLFINGER Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Long-Term Care, October 2020, pp.144-150. Online only
- Publisher:
- King's College London
- Place of publication:
- London
Context: The measures taken to counter the COVID-19 pandemic restricted the circular migration of live-in care workers between their countries of origin and the elderly persons’ households. Objective: In this comparative policy analysis, the impact of COVID-19 related policy measures for transnationally organised live-in care in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland is investigated. Method: Policy measures and media debates were analysed and inquiries with care workers, representatives of care agencies, unions, and activist groups were carried out between March and June 2020. Findings: In accordance with their institutionalisation of live-in care, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland responded differently to the challenges the pandemic posed to live-in care arrangements. However, all three countries focused on extending care workers’ rotas and re-establishing transnational mobility. These priorities subordinated the interests of care workers to those of care recipients. Furthermore, the measures remained short-term solutions that failed to acknowledge the fundamental flaws and inequalities of a care model that relies primarily on female migrant workers and wage differentials within Europe. Limitations: This policy comparison is based on an in-depth analysis of COVID-19 related policies, supplemented by inquiries among stakeholders with whom research had been done prior to the pandemic. More in-depth interviews are required to further substantiate the findings concerning their perspectives and gain insight into the longer-term effects of the pandemic. Implications: The pandemic has brought the flaws of the live-in care model to the fore. Countries need to rethink their fragile care policies, which build on social inequality and uninhibited transnational mobility. (Edited publisher abstract)
Caregivers’ adaptation to change: The impact of increasing impairment of persons suffering from dementia on their caregivers’ subjective well-being
- Authors:
- PERREN S., SCHMID R., WETTSTEIN A.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 10(5), September 2006, pp.539-548.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The current intervention study investigated associations between the course of dementia patients’ impairment and their caregivers’ well-being over two years. One hundred and twenty-eight care recipient-caregiver dyads from Switzerland participated in a controlled randomised intervention study (psycho-educational group intervention), 99 dyads in which the care recipients still lived at home participated in the second assessment, and 75 dyads in the third assessment. The intervention aimed to: give knowledge regarding symptoms of dementia and the course of the disease; strengthening of self-perception to improve self-care; optimising the relationship between the care recipient and caregiver; and increasing social competence to enable caregivers to solicit social support and use formal help such as respite care. Caregivers were interviewed about their subjective well-being (emotional well-being and life satisfaction) as well as care recipients’ behavioural problems and functional disability. Care recipients completed various neuropsychological tests. The assessments were repeated one and two years later. The psycho-educational intervention had a positive impact on caregivers’ well-being. Level and increase in behavioural problems and increases in cognitive and functional impairment negatively affected caregiver well-being over time. For participants from the control condition the negative association between increase in impairment and decrease in caregiver well-being over time was stronger than for the caregivers in the intervention group. The results suggest that it is not only the severity of current problems and stress, but also the rate of change, that is important for caregivers’ well-being. Psycho-educational group intervention may help caregivers to adapt to the increasing impairment of care recipients with dementia.