Formal support for informal caregivers to persons with dementia through the trajectory of the disease in eight European countries

• Objectives: In European countries knowledge about availability and utilisation of support for informal caregivers caring for older person with dementia (PwD) is lacking. To be able to evaluate and develop the dementia support system forinformal caregivers to a PwD, a survey of European support systems and professional providers could serve as a knowledge base and enable European countries to learn from each other.The aim was to explore support for informal caregivers to PwD in terms of availability and utilisation, and to explore professional care providers and their educational levels involved in the support for informal caregivers to PwD through the trajectory of disease across eight European countries.Methods: A mapping system aiming to explore care and service for PwD and informal caregivers in eight European countries was used (Hallberg et al., 2013) to gather information about availability, utilisation and providers of support to informal caregivers caring for PwD.Results: Counselling, caregiver support and education where the support activities that had high availability in the diagnose stage to the intermediate stage with a decrease in late to end of life stage. Utilization was low with a small increase in the intermediate stage. Day care and respite care at home had high availability in the diagnose stage to the intermediate stage with a decrease in the late to end of life stage, utilized by no one or few through all stages. Professionals specialised in dementia (Bachelor to Master degree) provided counselling, education while caregiver support for informal caregivers and day care, respite care and respite care at home as relief for informal caregivers was provided by professionals from upper secondary school to a master degree.Conclusion: Availability and utilisation of support for informal caregivers appears to be related to each countries care and support systems. Countries with National guidelines for PwD and informal caregivers seemed to be more aware about the importance of professionals specialised in dementia in the support.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Trajectory of dementia

European countries

Formal care

Informal caregivers

Persons with dementia

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