Centre for Policy on Ageing



Narratives in a users' and carers' group — meanings and impact
Author(s)	Susan M Benbow, Yong Lock Ong, Sarah Black
Journal title	International Psychogeriatrics, vol 21, no 1, February 2009
Pages	pp 33-39
Source	http://www.journals.cambridge.org/ipg
Keywords	Informal care ; Memory and Reminiscence ; Group work ; Advocacy ; Interpretation.
Annotation	Carers who wished to share their experiences with a national working group (the Consumer Group) prepared narratives as a way of identifying areas for discussion. The narratives were submitted to one author and subjected to thematic qualitative analysis. The themes were fed back to the Group for discussion. Five main themes were identified: difficulties in obtaining a diagnosis; acting as an advocate; stresses of caring; practical problems with social care; and emotions experienced by carers. The narratives provided a means of sharing carers' experiences and creating initiatives for further action by the Group. They have an impact on the people who hear or read them, but may also be therapeutic for those who produce them. Narratives can also be a powerful tool in teaching and training, and in identifying areas for service and professional improvement. (KJ/RH).
Accession Number	CPA-090825227 A
Classmark	P6: DB: IGG: IQ: 4CC
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.