| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
Can we move beyond burden and burnout to support the health and wellness of family caregivers to persons with dementia?
— evidence from British Columbia, Canada | | Author(s) | Meredith B Lilly, Carole A Robinson, Susan Holtzman, Joan L Bottorff |
| Journal title | Health and Social Care in the Community, vol 20, no 1, January 2012 |
| Pages | pp 103-112 |
| Source | http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/hscc |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Family care ; Stress ; Well being ; Social policy ; Qualitative Studies ; Canada. |
| Annotation | Policy in Canada and elsewhere encourages older adults to age at home. However there is recognition that this has had negative consequences for family members who care for them. This paper outlines findings of a qualitative study investigating the health support needs of family caregivers to persons with dementia, and how health policy decisions and practices influence these needs and resources. Focus groups were conducted in 2010 with 23 caregivers and the health professionals who supported them in three communities in British Columbia. Thematic analysis revealed two overarching themes: forgotten: abandoned to care alone and indefinitely, and unrealistic expectations for caregiver self-care. The article concludes that the sociopolitical context giving rise to negative consequences for caregivers to individuals with dementia has not improved. New expectations upon caregivers to engage in self-care without adequate support serve to amplify caregivers' experience of burden. The Canadian homecare policy context prevents caregivers from successfully addressing their health and wellbeing by embedding incentives to declare burnout as their only means of receiving support. A fundamental re-orientation towards caregivers and caregiver support is necessary, beginning with viewing caregivers as a critical human resource in a system that depends on their contributions in order to function. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-120824008 A |
| Classmark | EA: P6:SJ: QNH: D:F:5HH: TM2: 3DP: 7S |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|