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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| The role of home carers: findings from a study of alcohol and older people | | Author(s) | Rachel Herring, Betsy Thom |
| Journal title | Health Care in Later Life, vol 3, no 3, 1998 |
| Pages | pp 199-211 |
| Keywords | Alcoholism ; Home care services ; Personnel ; London. |
| Annotation | The main purpose of this study was to assess the current and potential role of home carers in the identification and response to problems associated with alcohol use and misuse in older people. The study was carried out in three local authority areas in London, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings showed that home carers reported an increased caseload of clients with dementia and confusional states, which are problems that often mask alcohol misuse. Home carers tended to view alcohol use as either `alcoholic' (and therefore a problem) or non-problematic, and relied on overt signs (e.g., self-neglect, aggressive behaviour) to identify alcohol misuse. The key factors mentioned by carers as associated with alcohol misuse were loss, loneliness and isolation, and depression. When alcohol misuse was identified, the concern was to `contain' the client rather than address the alcohol problem or its underlying causes. The findings suggest that home carers are well placed both to identify and to respond to alcohol misuse by older clients. However, they face a number of barriers, including the lack of clear practice guidelines and training, and inadequate support. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980908404 A |
| Classmark | ETA: NH: QM: 82L |
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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