Centre for Policy on Ageing



Dementia care staff and family carers: their relationships in the context of care
Author(s)	Deborah S Setterlund
Journal title	Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol 17, no 3, August 1998
Pages	pp 135-139
Keywords	Dementia ; Care homes ; Family care ; Personnel ; Personal relationships ; Australia.
Annotation	In the complex environment of residential care, little is known about the relationship between family carers and paid care staff. This Australian study examined the perceptions held by dementia care staff of their relationships with family carers. The study used a qualitative approach involving multiple methods of data collection (in-depth interviews, participant observation, assessment of the physical and mental function of residents. A non-random sample of 15 care staff from 7 residential care settings was used. Findings revealed that care staff perceived family carers to be generally grateful and undemanding, and that a significant number lack sufficient involvement in residents' care. It was concluded that policy and organisational change is needed to enable staff and family carers to voice the tensions inherent in their relationship. Funding arrangements for residential care need to include time for staff to develop relationships with family carers. (AKM).
Accession Number	CPA-980907404 A
Classmark	EA: KW: P6:SJ: QM: DS: 7YA
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.