Barriers to participation in educational programs for family caregivers of people with dementia

Abstract

Introduction: In the Czech Republic, like in other European countries, we are witnessing an expansion of programmes for families who care for their relatives with dementia. Objective: Our study aimed to investigate whether caregivers are interested in such psychoeducational programmes, what barriers prevent them from using them, and what form of programmes they would prefer. Results: 85 adults who cared for a family member with dementia participated in our questionnaire survey. The results showed a link between the respondents' age and their willingness and ability to participate in psychoeducational programmes. With increasing age, interest in such programmes decreased. For older respondents, mainly providers of partner care, the most frequent obstacle was the impossibility of leaving the care recipient alone at home. Preferences regarding the format of psychoeducational programmes were also age dependent: younger participants preferred support groups, consultations in their own home, and meeting jointly with the care recipient more than the older caregivers, who tended to prefer 'traditional' forms of education (consultations or psychoeducational courses). Conclusions: Our results indicate that it is unproductive to strive for a single 'ideal' form of psychoeducational programme that would suit everyone. Instead, the offer should reflect the differing demands of caregiver groups.