The experiences needs and outcomes for carers of people with dementia

Full Report
The implementation of the National Dementia
Strategy for England (2009) and subsequently
those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
acknowledge the need to provide appropriate
levels of intervention for family caregivers. This is
further reinforced in the Prime Minister’s Challenge
(Department of Health, 2012, 2015). These and
related policy documents highlight a number of
priorities which include the provision of information,
education and support for people living with
dementia and their families and carers. Elvish, et al.
(2012: 3) identify three key statements within the
strategy which require action:
• Active work is needed to ensure that the
provisions of the Carers Strategy are available for
carers of people with dementia.
• Carers have a right to an assessment of their
needs and can be supported through an agreed
plan to support the important role they play in
the care of the person with dementia. This will
include good-quality personalised breaks.
• Action should be taken to strengthen support for
children who are in caring roles, ensuring that
their particular needs as children are protected.
It is within this context that RSAS is seeking new and
innovative ways of improving the quality of life for
people living with dementia and their families at
home. The charity wishes to contribute to improving
the quality of life for people living with dementia,
by providing support to their carers and families,
so as to enable them to live at home and within
their community for long as possible. They wish to
achieve this through the design and delivery of a
project or service model which can provide support
to carers and families of people living with dementia
at home to ensure that they can maintain their
independence, their dignity and remain in their own
homes for as long as possible.
This literature review forms the first stage of this
development and provides an up-to-date review
concerning the evidence in relation to the following
questions:
1 What is the experience of caregiving for a person
living with dementia, and in what context does
caregiving take place?
2 What implications does caregiving have for the
person/family member involved in caregiving and the
person with dementia?
3 What is currently known about the factors that protect
or increase the risk of poor outcomes in caregiving?
4 What evidence is there for interventions to support
family caregiving and reduce the risk of poor
outcomes and how is this delivered in relation to:
a Information and Education
b Multi-component, psycho-educational interventions
c Psychological Interventions
d Peer support and other social interventions
e Assistive technology and new media
5 What form of service provision is required to support
family caregivers? This will include consideration of
such issues as:
f How might a service be delivered?
g What factors will influence delivery including
location, design, accessibility and flexibility?
6 Who will the service be for and how can family
caregivers be supported to engage with the service?
‘It is within this context that
RSAS is seeking new and
innovative ways of improving
the quality of life for people
living with dementia and
their families at home.’
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