Abstract
The majority of people with dementia, even at advanced stages, receive most of their care and support from family members, friends, and neighbors, rather than formal support systems. This qualitative research undertaken in the Australian state of Queensland explored how family carers of people with dementia living in the community successfully manage and sustain informal caring. It also considers challenges these carers anticipated in continuing to support their family member with dementia in the future. What emerges through this analysis of the carers’ perspective on the sustainability of care is the impact of factors including the living arrangements, generational cohort and life stage of the carer, financial issues, and ability to effectively combine caring with their other roles and responsibilities in life.
Highlights
Dementia is acknowledged as a significant disability that requires considerable long-term care
A number of themes related to the informal caring environment were recurring throughout the interviews: the shifts and changes carers experienced in taking on the role of a carer, their approach to caring, family dynamics, financial issues, and the intersection of work and care
What emerges from the findings presented in this article is that the burden of caring for a family member with dementia has the potential to have long-term effects, on access to employment and on the quality of life of the family carer
Summary
Dementia is acknowledged as a significant disability that requires considerable long-term care. Caring for a person with dementia can result in physical, psychological, and economic impacts on the carer, which are often greater than in caring for people with other conditions associated with aging (Barnett, 2013; Brodaty & Donkin, 2009). These impacts are primarily related to a number of symptoms resulting from memory loss, challenging behaviors, and gradual loss of ability to carry out activities of everyday living, which necessitate intense support from carers. The most recent data from Australia estimate that more than 332,000 Australians are living with dementia (of a total population of just more than 21.5 million people) with the numbers set to rise significantly in the two decades (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2014).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call