Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 10(2), May 2011, pp.165-184.
Publisher:
Sage
Demographic changes have led to an increase in the number of people with dementia at a time when there are less carers available to provide care. This paper specifically examines the experiences of dementia family caregivers in Malta. The study design was essentially exploratory as this is the first funded social research on dementia on the island. Semi-structured interviews were conducted...
Demographic changes have led to an increase in the number of people with dementia at a time when there are less carers available to provide care. This paper specifically examines the experiences of dementia family caregivers in Malta. The study design was essentially exploratory as this is the first funded social research on dementia on the island. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2008 with 17 caregivers sourced from an outpatient memory clinic. A thematic analysis was guided by the questions – what are the experiences of family caregiving in Malta, and what impact does caregiving have for individual/family life? Three key findings are discussed, namely: the organisation of family care in Malta; the use of formal services; and the dislocation of dementia caregiving experiences from wider community life. This paper raises questions about support mechanisms currently available in Malta while presenting cross-national learning opportunities to apply established knowledge to Malta.
Subject terms:
social care provision, user views, carers, dementia, families;
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(13-14), 2015, pp.1916-1925.
Publisher:
John Wiley and Sons
Aims and objectives: To explore the quality dementia care in two geriatric hospital wards using appreciative inquiry with formal care workers and family members of inpatients with dementia.
Background: Care models such as person-centred and relationship-centred care have been developed to explain what ‘quality’ dementia care should be. However, their usefulness and relevance to clinicians has...
(Publisher abstract)
Aims and objectives: To explore the quality dementia care in two geriatric hospital wards using appreciative inquiry with formal care workers and family members of inpatients with dementia.
Background: Care models such as person-centred and relationship-centred care have been developed to explain what ‘quality’ dementia care should be. However, their usefulness and relevance to clinicians has been questioned.
Design: Using an exploratory qualitative design within an appreciative inquiry framework, 33 care workers working in a geriatric hospital and 10 family members of patients with dementia were interviewed.
Methods: Open-ended questions were asked to encourage care workers to narrate positive care experiences when the care was perceived to be at its best and to identify what made these experiences possible. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed whilst data were analysed thematically using a qualitative data analysis software to assist in data management.
Results: Positive care experiences can be understood within five care processes, namely building a relationship between the ‘extended’ dementia care triad, providing ‘quality time’ and ‘care in time’, going the ‘extra mile’, attending to the psychosocial needs and attending to the physical needs with a ‘human touch’. Factors facilitating these positive care experiences included personal attributes of care workers, and organisational, environmental and contextual factors.
Conclusions: This study provides an alternative and pragmatic approach to understanding quality dementia care and complements the body of knowledge on factors influencing dementia care practices in hospitals.
Relevance to clinical practice: By understanding the components of quality dementia care and how these can be achieved from different stakeholders, it is possible to develop strategies aimed at improving the care offered to patients with dementia in hospitals.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
dementia, health care, hospitals, older people, care workers, families, relatives, standards, service users, user views;
Contains examples of successful service provision for older people from 40 countries. The case studies are organised into the following sections: care at home; community support; empowerment; participation; fitness and well-being; income generation; environment; integrated services; mental health; training for elder care; organisation of services; and older women.
Contains examples of successful service provision for older people from 40 countries. The case studies are organised into the following sections: care at home; community support; empowerment; participation; fitness and well-being; income generation; environment; integrated services; mental health; training for elder care; organisation of services; and older women.
Subject terms:
integrated services, management, multidisciplinary services, older people, social work education, staff, staff management, training, user participation, women, community care, dementia, empowerment, environmental factors, health;
Location(s):
Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ghana, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Germany, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, Mali, Malta, Norway, Pakistan, Mexico, Sweden, Thailand, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe