How Do Officially Organized Services Meet the Needs of Elderly Caregivers and Their Spouses With Alzheimer's Disease?

Abstract

The caregiving situation among caregivers and their spouses with Alzheimer's disease, the support and services received, the unmet needs, and the caregivers' satisfaction with the services are examined. The study included a survey of a random sample of 1943 caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease in Finland. Mean age of the caregivers was 78.2 years, and 35% had poor subjective health. Disabilities and behavioral symptoms were common among the spouses with Alzheimer's disease. The services most often offered were financial support (36%), technical devices (33%), physiotherapy (32%), and respite care in nursing homes (31%). Most often needed services were physiotherapy for the spouse with dementia (56%), financial support (50%), house-cleaning (41%), and home respite (40%). Only 39% of the caregivers were satisfied with the services, and 69% felt they did not have any influence on what services were offered. It was concluded that official services poorly meet the needs of these caregivers.

Support/services among family caregivers of persons with dementia—perceived importance and services received

“…Hence individual support/services may not have an effect on the overall situation of the caregivers. A recent study from Finland (Raivio et al, 2007) showed that official services are inadequate in meeting the needs of caregivers of persons with dementia, and that there must be more collaboration and consideration of the needs and wishes of the caregivers before services are provided.…”

Balneotherapy, prevention of cognitive decline and care the Alzheimer patient and his family: Outcome of a multidisciplinary workgroup

“…Different theories are defined in publications: they do not meet caregivers' expectations or requirements (63), families are convinced that they provide more stress than relief (64-66), they produce a sense of guilt towards patients (64).…”

Carers' Experiences with Overnight Respite Care. A Qualitative Study

“…The lack of respite care is not only a Norwegian phenomenon; it was also a problem in Canada (33), Finland (34) and Sweden (35). Harrison and Neufeld (36) reported some carers had several barriers requesting support for themselves.…”