TY - JOUR
T1 - Formal support for informal caregivers to older persons with dementia through the course of the disease: an exploratory, cross-sectional study
AU - Lethin, C
AU - Leino-Kilpi, H
AU - Roe, Brenda
AU - Martin Soto, M
AU - Saks, K
AU - Stephan, A
AU - Zwakhalen, S
AU - Zabalegui, A
AU - Karlsson, S
PY - 2016/1/29
Y1 - 2016/1/29
N2 - Background: In European countries, knowledge about availability and utilization of support for informal caregivers
caring for older persons (≥65 years) with dementia (PwD) is lacking. To be able to evaluate and develop the
dementia support system for informal caregivers to PwD, a survey of European support systems and professionals
involved is needed. The aim of this study was to explore support for informal caregivers to PwD in European countries. We investigated the availability and utilization of support in each of the participating countries, and the professional care providers involved, through the dementia disease.
Methods: A mapping system was used in 2010–2011 to gather information about estimations of availability, utilization, and professional providers of support to informal caregivers caring for PwD. Data collected was representing each country as a whole.
Results: There was high availability of counselling, caregiver support, and education from the diagnosis to the
intermediate stage, with a decrease in the late to end of life stage. Utilization was low, although there was a
small increase in the intermediate stage. Day care and respite care were highly available in the diagnosis to
the intermediate stage, with a decrease in the late to end of life stage, but both types of care were utilized
by few or no caregivers through any of the disease stages. Professionals specialized in dementia (Bachelor to
Master’s degree) provided counselling and education, whereas caregiver support for informal caregivers and
day care, respite care, and respite care at home were provided by professionals with education ranging from
upper secondary schooling to a Master’s degree.
Conclusions: Counselling, caregiver support, and education were highly available in European countries from diagnosis
to the intermediate stage of the dementia disease, decreasing in the late/end of life stages but were rarely utilized.
Countries with care systems based on national guidelines for dementia care seem to be more aware of the importance
of professionals specialized in dementia care when providing support to informal caregivers. Mapping the systems of support for informal caregivers of PwD is a valuable tool for evaluating existing systems, internationally, nationally and
locally for policy making.
AB - Background: In European countries, knowledge about availability and utilization of support for informal caregivers
caring for older persons (≥65 years) with dementia (PwD) is lacking. To be able to evaluate and develop the
dementia support system for informal caregivers to PwD, a survey of European support systems and professionals
involved is needed. The aim of this study was to explore support for informal caregivers to PwD in European countries. We investigated the availability and utilization of support in each of the participating countries, and the professional care providers involved, through the dementia disease.
Methods: A mapping system was used in 2010–2011 to gather information about estimations of availability, utilization, and professional providers of support to informal caregivers caring for PwD. Data collected was representing each country as a whole.
Results: There was high availability of counselling, caregiver support, and education from the diagnosis to the
intermediate stage, with a decrease in the late to end of life stage. Utilization was low, although there was a
small increase in the intermediate stage. Day care and respite care were highly available in the diagnosis to
the intermediate stage, with a decrease in the late to end of life stage, but both types of care were utilized
by few or no caregivers through any of the disease stages. Professionals specialized in dementia (Bachelor to
Master’s degree) provided counselling and education, whereas caregiver support for informal caregivers and
day care, respite care, and respite care at home were provided by professionals with education ranging from
upper secondary schooling to a Master’s degree.
Conclusions: Counselling, caregiver support, and education were highly available in European countries from diagnosis
to the intermediate stage of the dementia disease, decreasing in the late/end of life stages but were rarely utilized.
Countries with care systems based on national guidelines for dementia care seem to be more aware of the importance
of professionals specialized in dementia care when providing support to informal caregivers. Mapping the systems of support for informal caregivers of PwD is a valuable tool for evaluating existing systems, internationally, nationally and
locally for policy making.
U2 - 10.1186/s12877-016-0210-9
DO - 10.1186/s12877-016-0210-9
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 1471-2318
VL - 16
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - BMC Geriatrics
JF - BMC Geriatrics
IS - 32
ER -