Family carers' experiences of the Admiral Nursing Service: a quantitative analysis of carer feedback

Abstract

Objectives: Family carers of people with dementia often experience difficulty in accessing information, services and adequate support. Admiral Nurses, registered nurses specialising in dementia, provide holistic and person-centred support to families living with dementia. This study assessed the effectiveness of the Admiral Nurses' approach from the perspective of family carers who had accessed their service. Method: A questionnaire was developed with input from family carers and Admiral Nurses and questions were based around the Admiral Nursing Standards. 685 questionnaires were sent out in total to carers in receipt of care from three different regions in England. Results: 207 questionnaires (30.2% response rate) were analysed. Admiral Nurses' knowledge and skills and their interventions were found helpful by 81.5% and 82.6% of respondents, respectively (mean values). Respondents also rated them effective in developing rapport (96.5%, mean value) and recognising and supporting the needs of the dyad (85.8%, mean value). More varied views were expressed in relation to activities and stimulation for the person with dementia, and to advice around medications and their effects, with around a third (n = 57, 31% and n = 63, 33.9%, respectively) of respondents finding Admiral Nurses not helpful, whilst 24.6% (n = 46) thought so in relation to care coordination. A higher number of contacts with Admiral Nurses (5+) and carer gender (female) were significant predictors of carers' satisfaction. Conclusion: Whilst some aspects of supporting carers are performed less well from the carers' perspective, overall family carers in receipt of Admiral Nursing support perceived their family-centred approach as helpful/effective.