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Typologies of dementia caregiver support networks: a pilot study
- Authors:
- FRIEDMAN Esther M, KENNEDY David P.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 61(8), 2021, pp.1221-1230.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: There are nearly 18 million family caregivers in the United States assisting an older adult in need of help. Identifying the caregivers in greatest need of support requires an understanding of the current social support networks available to family caregivers and whether specific groups of caregivers are at risk of having an insufficient support network. Research Design and Methods: the researchers collected personal network data from a nationally representative sample of 66 family caregivers to persons with dementia (PWDs) in the United States aged 18 and older, including information on network members’ support to the caregiver and help to the care recipient. Results: this study found four common caregiving network types: large networks with many helpers; large networks primarily supporting caregivers; small, dense networks supporting both caregivers and care recipient; and small networks providing little help to either caregiver or care recipient. Gender, income, and geographic proximity of caregiver to the care recipient were significantly associated with caregiver network type. Discussion and Implications: This study suggests that there are different types of care and support networks available to caregivers to PWDs, and that the size and structure of networks vary considerably among demographic groups. As the population ages, a better understanding of the supports available to caregivers will be crucial for ensuring that caregivers are adequately supported, and caregiving needs of families are met. (Edited publisher abstract)
The feasibility of measuring social networks among older adults in assisted living and dementia special care units
- Authors:
- ABBOTT Katherine M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 14(2), 2015, pp.199-219.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Studies indicate that social integration has a significant influence on physical and mental health. Older adults experience an increased risk of social isolation as their social networks decline with fewer traditional opportunities to add new social relationships. Deaths of similar aged friends, cognitive and functional impairments, and relocating to a nursing home (NH) or assisted-living (AL) facility contribute to difficulties in maintaining one’s social network. This study develops and tests the feasibility of using a combination of methodological approaches to capture social network data among older adults living in AL and a dementia special care unit NH. Social network analysis of both egocentric and sociocentric networks was conducted to visualize the social networks of 15 residents of an AL neighbourhood and 12 residents of a dementia special care unit NH and to calculate measures network size, centrality, and reciprocity. The combined egocentric and sociocentric method was feasible and provided a robust indicator of resident social networks highlighting individuals who were socially integrated as well as isolated. (Edited publisher abstract)
Ethnic differences in social network help-seeking strategies among Latino and Euro-American dementia caregivers
- Authors:
- VALLE R., YAMADA A.-M., BARRIO C.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 8(6), November 2004, pp.535-543.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This research explores the help-seeking behavior of Euro-American and Latino caregivers who provide homecare assistance to an older adult with dementia. A community sample of 89 caregiver-care recipient pairs (39 Latino and 50 Euro-American) was interviewed. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine ethnic differences in use of an informal social network for help with caregiving tasks. Caregiver experiences that may impact help-seeking behaviors such as perceived availability of support network, satisfaction with support received and caregiver distress were also considered. Latino caregivers reported less help-seeking than did the Euro-American caregivers. Overall, ethnicity accounted for 16% of the variation in help-seeking behaviors. Ethnicity accounted for a significant portion of the variation in most of the help-seeking characteristics examined even after adjusting for socioeconomic variables. In the multivariate model, the effects of ethnicity on help-seeking persisted, while the effects of other likely predictors did not. The size of social network may not be synonymous with the seeking of support by caregivers. Likewise, higher levels of distress among Latino caregivers did not result in increased help-seeking behaviors. There remains a need to identity what other factors may contribute to the cultural variability in caregivers’ use of informal support.
Support networks and dementia
- Author:
- WENGER G. Clare
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 9(3), 1994, pp.181-194.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Reports on research carried out in Liverpool, which identified the availability of kin and levels of contact with family, friends, neighbours and community groups, and compares the distribution of support network types of those identified as dementia with non-cases.
A comparison of the caregiving networks of dependent elderly individuals who are lucid and those who are demented
- Authors:
- BIRKEL Richard C., JONES Constance J.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 29(1), February 1989, pp.114-119.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Study showing that families caring for demented elderly people receive help from very reduced network of helpers.
Nested social groups within the social environment of a dementia care assisted living setting
- Authors:
- DOYLE Patrick J., DE MEDEIROS Kate, SAUNDERS Pamela A.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(3), May 2012, pp.383-399.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Entering long-term care is a radical transition and particularly difficult for people with dementia whose social environments are often complex. This ethnographic study looked at the ways in which residents in a dementia care setting navigated and participated within social groups. The 31 participants were residents in a long-term care facility in the US. Observation of social environments within the residence revealed active socialisation and even the formation of strong and lasting friendships between people with dementia. Many of these relationships were observed to be a part of groups, ‘nested’ within the larger social environment. These ‘nested social groups’ had unique dynamics and their structure was often influenced by outside factors (e.g. physical environment and staff preferences). The authors discuss the existence of these groups and their implications for the experiences and quality of life of residents in long-term care. Nested social groups are defined and their function within the social environment debated.
Loneliness and cognition in older people: the Dublin Healthy Ageing study
- Authors:
- O'LUANAIGH C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(3), April 2012, pp.347-352.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Several studies have shown that social isolation has a detrimental effect on cognition. However, relatively few have examined the relationship between cognition and loneliness. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship between loneliness and cognition, and to determine whether specific cognitive domains are associated with loneliness. The findings are taken from the Dublin Healthy Ageing Study, a prospective examination of the psychiatric, cognitive, physical and social well-being of community-dwelling elderly in inner-city Dublin. This study included 466 participants with mean age 75.45 years, of which 44% were males. Analyses were done of the relationship between loneliness, social networks, depression, and demographics, and global cognition. The main finding is that loneliness in older people is significantly associated with impaired global cognition independent of social networks and depression. The domains of psychomotor processing speed and delayed visual memory were specifically associated with self-reported loneliness. The mechanism for this association is unclear and warrants further investigation.
A grounded theory longitudinal study of carers’ experiences of caring for people with dementia
- Authors:
- LIN Mei-Chun, MACMILLAN Maureen, BROWN Norrie
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(2), March 2012, pp.181-197.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Provision of care for older people with dementia in the UK is shifting from institutions to the community. This, coupled with increased longevity, is increasing the burden on, and reducing the autonomy of, those who care for these individuals. This longitudinal, grounded approach study sought to identify, describe and explore the changes in the carers’ experiences, autonomy and health over time. Six spouses (mean age 69 years, 6-10 years caring since diagnosis) were interviewed at the beginning, at six months and at eighteen months. Four themes emerged; my life changed, commitment, responsibility and duty, and support. The core category “my life changed” represented the beginning of the caregiving journey and the learning from experience that occurred as a consequence. “Commitment” referred to a deepened and sustained element. “Responsibility and duty” increased over time and “support” reflected the fluctuating nature of help provided by formal and informal sources. All participants experienced changes on their caregiving journey but the degree and nature of necessary adaptations varied. The authors conclude that a theory of caring emerged, but the changes did not appear to conform to any fixed pattern. All carers learned by experience to manage their situations. Autonomy and health was challenged in every case.
Partnership working for a health ageing cafe
- Authors:
- HOUGH Jemma, BRIMS Sylvia
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Care Services Management, 3(3), April 2009, pp.244-246.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper briefly describes the partnership between a branch of the Alzheimer's Society and a housing association which has resulted in the provision of a weekly service provided for people with dementia and their carers, called the Healthy Ageing Café.
Informal caregiving networks and use of formal services by Inner-City African American elderly with dementia
- Authors:
- LI Hong, EDWARDS Dorothy, MORROW-HOWELL Nancy
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 85(1), January 2004, pp.55-62.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Presents a study of a group of 200 urban African American older people with dementia, the characteristics of their informal caregiving networks, and patterns of formal service use to examine relationships between informal caregiving networks and formal service use. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that older people were less likely to use formal services when caregivers in the informal networks were more capable of making care-related decisions. In addition, older people's functional status, annual income, and Medicaid eligibility were also significantly related to their use of formal services. Discusses practice implications of the findings.