Abstract
Background: The Alzheimer Café is a psychosocial intervention shown to have benefits for family carers of people with dementia. Family carers experience a period of change across all aspects of their lives following the dementia diagnosis, and require new skills and tools to navigate these new landscapes. The objective of this research was to investigate family carers' perspectives of the Alzheimer Café in Ireland, and explore how attendance may translate into broader benefits in their lives. This paper also provides an overview of Alzheimer Café models, which exist internationally. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine family carers of people with dementia who were currently attending or had attended an Alzheimer Café in the preceding six months. The research was conducted in three Alzheimer Cafés in Ireland. Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke's six step thematic analysis framework. Results: Community, atmosphere, activity and information were described as core features of the Alzheimer Café in Ireland. The Alzheimer Café was described as a community with a good atmosphere encompassing emotional support, friendship, equality and inclusion. Family carer also highlighted Alzheimer Cafés could potentially facilitate wider community awareness and engagement. The Alzheimer Café was shown to provide an activity which facilitated relationship building within care dyads as well as with other attendees. Several information streams were identified, including guest speaker input, attendees' shared experiences, and specific advice from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: The Alzheimer Café offers strong personal support to family carers of people with dementia. Our findings suggest that Alzheimer Cafés can build family carers' capacity to manage new social, environmental and cultural challenges associated with dementia. While it is important the Alzheimer Café is enjoyable, has useful information and is supportive, it is equally important that these features generate sustained improvements for family carers external to the Alzheimer Café.
Highlights
The Alzheimer Café is a psychosocial intervention shown to have a positive impact on different aspects of family carers and people with dementias’ lives (Dow et al, 2011; Greenwood et al, 2017; Merlo et al, 2018; Winterton & Warburton, 2011)
The Alzheimer Café model was developed by Bére Miesen in the Netherlands in the 1970s to address the lack of psychosocial supports within the largely medicalised approach to dementia care at the time
Community The Alzheimer Café provided family carers with an opportunity to be part of a new supportive community. This community network consisted of people with dementia, other family carers, staff and volunteers
Summary
The Alzheimer Café is a psychosocial intervention shown to have a positive impact on different aspects of family carers and people with dementias’ lives (Dow et al, 2011; Greenwood et al, 2017; Merlo et al, 2018; Winterton & Warburton, 2011). The original Alzheimer Café model had three mains aims: to provide information about medical and psychosocial aspects of dementia; to speak openly about challenges associated with dementia; and to reduce isolation for people with dementia and their families (Miesen & Blom, 2001). The Alzheimer Café is a psychosocial intervention shown to have benefits for family carers of people with dementia. Our findings suggest that Alzheimer Cafés can build family carers’ capacity to manage new social, environmental and cultural challenges associated with dementia. While it is important the Alzheimer Café is enjoyable, has useful information and is supportive, it is important that these features generate sustained improvements for family carers external to the Alzheimer Café
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
