Informal caregivers with dementia lack a stable face in health care – News

Caregivers of people with dementia are satisfied with the professional care provided to their loved ones, but suffer from a lack of fixed faces, especially in institutions. This is clear from the Dementia Monitor Informal Care 2018 of Nivel and Alzheimer Nederland

The care of a close relative with dementia can be serious, said participants in the biennial report Dementiemonitor Informal Care. Thirteen percent of caregivers feel very heavy or overworked. This percentage fluctuates in recent years. In 2016 he was superior, in 2013 he was just as high and in 2011 he was lower than today. The health care tax seems to have increased compared to 2016: more and more people are taking care of their loved ones day and night. Even when the neighbor lives in a care institution, caregivers often provide care for several hours a week.

In addition to caring for their loved ones, informal caregivers often experience social isolation. Because of their neighbor's dementia, it is harder for them to maintain social contacts. They often feel relatively alone compared to members of the Dutch population in general. Help inform caregivers in most cases about family members, but much less often about friends and neighbors. It is rare for friends or neighbors to spontaneously offer help.

Dementia Related to Case Management

The most common form of support is dementia related to case management. Informal caregivers often call for the necessary case management to allow the neighbor to live at home as long as possible. However, only half of them were informed of their right to case management, this was also the case in 2016. When the person with dementia is admitted to a care facility, case management is still often desirable. A quarter of caregivers with whom case management stopped after their neighbor's admission found that it was too early.

Finally, caregivers are generally satisfied with the care facility in which their loved ones live, but they see improvements to be made. As in 2016, they face a shortage of staff and a lack of fixed faces for caregivers who are familiar with the person with dementia and his or her history.