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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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What to tell dementia caregivers
— the rule of threes | | Author(s) | Claudia Wald, Martin Fahy, Zuzana Walker |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 18, no 4, April 2003 |
| Pages | pp 313-317 |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Communication ; Informal care. |
| Annotation | 100 carers recruited from community mental health teams (CMHTs) or a memory clinic (MC) were administered a semi-structured Carer Interview covering possible symptoms and management. Carers requested as much information as possible, there being no significant difference between CHMTs and the MC. After carers prioritised the information they wished to receive, the authors proposed a "rule of three". At diagnosis, carers want information about what dementia is. In an early follow-up appointment, they want information about services, the course of the illness, and what to do in a crisis. In a later follow-up appointment, they want information about support groups, benefits, and financial and legal issues. At a later stage, they want information about psychological therapies, the effect of the illness on carers and complimentary treatments. Most carers wish to receive information from a health professional backed up by written information. The "rule of threes" enables health professionals to make informed decisions about primacy of information and strategies to prevent carers being overloaded. Information should also be provided in written form and from support groups. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-030515208 A |
| Classmark | EA: LK7: U: P6 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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