Dementia care programmes that support family caregivers reduce burnout, study finds
A new Scandinavian study shows that combining rehabilitation for dementia patients with education and counselling for their family caregivers significantly improves caregiver wellbeing and reduces strain. The finding has major implications for healthcare systems designing dementia care pathways and for long-term care providers seeking to reduce turnover among informal caregivers.
Originaltitel: Informal caregivers’ perspectives on participation in a dementia rehabilitation programme
<p>Background: There is limited experience in combining interdisciplinary rehabilitation for persons with dementia and caregiver support.</p><p>Aim: To explore how informal caregivers perceive participation in a person-centred, multidimensional, interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme targeting community-dwelling older adults with dementia and their informal caregivers, and how the programme has influenced their everyday life.</p><p>Material and Methods: Fourteen informal caregivers, aged 45–84 years, participated in a qualitative interview following a randomised controlled pilot study. Transcribed interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.</p><p>Results: The analysis resulted in seven categories and three themes: feelingchallenged and boostedto face an uncertain future, perceiving supportive activities as sources ofbothjoy and frustration in everyday life and finding relief in recognising their relative’s former self.</p><p>Conclusions and Significance: Combining interdisciplinary rehabilitation for adults with dementia with education and support for caregivers was perceived as viable and valuable for the informal caregivers. They felt strengthened by the rehabilitation and better prepared for their uncertain future. However, participation also challenged everyday routines, but the benefits appeared to outweigh the strain.</p>