Back to Search Start Over

A mismatch between supply and demand of social support in dementia care: a qualitative study on the perspectives of spousal caregivers and their social network members.

Authors :
Dam AEH
Boots LMM
van Boxtel MPJ
Verhey FRJ
de Vugt ME
Source :
International psychogeriatrics [Int Psychogeriatr] 2018 Jun; Vol. 30 (6), pp. 881-892. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jun 13.
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground:Access to social support contributes to feelings of independence and better social health. This qualitative study aims to investigate multi-informant perspectives on informal social support in dementia care networks.<br />Methods: Ten spousal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) completed an ecogram, a social network card and a semi-structured interview. The ecogram aimed to trigger subjective experiences regarding social support. Subsequently, 17 network members were interviewed. The qualitative analyses identified codes, categories, and themes.<br />Results: Sixth themes emerged: (1) barriers to ask for support; (2) facilitators to ask for support; (3) barriers to offer support; (4) facilitators to offer support; (5) a mismatch between supply and demand of social support; and (6) openness in communication to repair the imbalance.<br />Discussion: Integrating social network perspectives resulted in a novel model identifying a mismatch between the supply and demand of social support, strengthened by a cognitive bias: caregivers reported to think for other social network members and vice versa. Openness in communication in formal and informal care systems might repair this mismatch.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1741-203X
Volume :
30
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
International psychogeriatrics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
28606195
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217000898