Continuing to care: the needs and roles of older carers of people with dementia

One characteristic of an ageing population is the increasing number of people with dementia. The vast majority are supported by family carers at home; this population is itself ageing and older carers constitute as ever larger proportion of the total number. Despite shifts in patterns of traditional reciprocity, intensive care is predominantly provided by spouses on a co-resident basis and daughters or sons on an extra resident basis. Care-giving for a PWD is widely evidenced as complex, stressful and demanding. Research identifies two broad categories of challenge: primary problems relating directly to the symptoms of dementia; and secondary problems related to the consequences of caring. Certainly dementia carers are at enhanced risk of experiencing poverty, social isolation, stress and a number of physical problems. Whilst research strongly suggests that carers actively benefit from a number of respite and specialist services, it is the oldest carers who provide the most intensive levels of care who receive the least. Developing responses which support caring dyads and are flexible are current deficits; narrow conceptualisations of 'need' and pathological constructions of caring also undermine the potential of the care system to offer effective support. Ethnic minority carers of PWD, carers of people with learning disabilities and dementia, and carers of relatives in long term care are particularly invisible subgroups of dementia caregivers increasing in both number and need

Carers of older relatives in long term care: support needs and services

Carers of relatives in long-term care are beginning to be recognised as a distinct group facing specific challenges and having particular needs. Despite the fact that many struggle to adjust to the admission of their relative to a home and experience high levels of emotional stress, former carers receive mixed levels of support from care homes and carers organisations. Evidence suggests that they need support in the following key areas: learning to live again, health and finances, care home issues, caring role and relationship, and information. Whilst examples of good practice exist these are not shared and there is limited policy focus on former carers either nationally or locally. Current emphasis on care home standards and caring in later life may offer an opportunity to develop a service strategy to address the needs of this under-researched and ‘invisible’ group of carers

Continuing to care: the needs and roles of older carers of people with dementia

One characteristic of an ageing population is the increasing number of people with dementia. The vast majority are supported by family carers at home; this population is itself ageing and older carers constitute as ever larger proportion of the total number. Despite shifts in patterns of traditional reciprocity, intensive care is predominantly provided by spouses on a co-resident basis and daughters or sons on an extra resident basis. Care-giving for a PWD is widely evidenced as complex, stressful and demanding. Research identifies two broad categories of challenge: primary problems relating directly to the symptoms of dementia; and secondary problems related to the consequences of caring. Certainly dementia carers are at enhanced risk of experiencing poverty, social isolation, stress and a number of physical problems. Whilst research strongly suggests that carers actively benefit from a number of respite and specialist services, it is the oldest carers who provide the most intensive levels of care who receive the least. Developing responses which support caring dyads and are flexible are current deficits; narrow conceptualisations of 'need' and pathological constructions of caring also undermine the potential of the care system to offer effective support. Ethnic minority carers of PWD, carers of people with learning disabilities and dementia, and carers of relatives in long term care are particularly invisible subgroups of dementia caregivers increasing in both number and need

Caring in later life Reviewing the role of older carers

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