Formal support for informal caregivers to older persons with dementia through the course of the disease: an exploratory, cross-sectional study
: Lethin C, Leino-Kilpi H, Roe B, Soto MM, Saks K, Stephan A, Zwakhalen S, Zabalegui A, Karlsson S
Publisher: BIOMED CENTRAL LTD
: 2016
: BMC Geriatrics
: BMC GERIATRICS
: BMC GERIATR
: ARTN 32
: 16
: 15
: 1471-2318
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-016-0210-9
Conclusions: Counselling, caregiver support, and education were highly available in European countries from diagnosis to the intermediate stage of the dementia disease, decreasing in the late/end of life stages but were rarely utilized. Countries with care systems based on national guidelines for dementia care seem to be more aware of the importance of professionals specialized in dementia care when providing support to informal caregivers. Mapping the systems of support for informal caregivers of PwD is a valuable tool for evaluating existing systems, internationally, nationally and locally for policy making.