Exploring the role of a facilitator in supporting family carers when embedding the iSupport for Dementia programme in care services: A qualitative study

Ying Yu; Sarah C Hunter; Lily Xiao; Claudia Meyer; Michael Chapman; Kai Ping Tan; Langduo Chen; Sue McKechnie; Julie Ratcliffe; Shahid Ullah; Alison Kitson; Andre Q Andrade; Craig Whitehead

doi:10.1111/jocn.16836

Exploring the role of a facilitator in supporting family carers when embedding the iSupport for Dementia programme in care services: A qualitative study

J Clin Nurs. 2023 Oct;32(19-20):7358-7371. doi: 10.1111/jocn.16836. Epub 2023 Jul 21.

Authors

Ying Yu^{1

2}, Sarah C Hunter^{1

2}, Lily Xiao^{1

2}, Claudia Meyer^{1

3

4

5}, Michael Chapman^{6

7}, Kai Ping Tan⁷, Langduo Chen^{1

8}, Sue McKechnie⁹, Julie Ratcliffe^{1

2}, Shahid Ullah¹⁰, Alison Kitson^{1

2}, Andre Q Andrade¹¹, Craig Whitehead⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
² Caring Future Institutes, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
³ Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Health Communication and Participation, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
⁷ Department of Palliative Care, Canberra Health Services, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
⁸ Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁹ Community Services, Resthaven Incorporated, Bartley Crescent Wayville, South Australia, Australia.
¹⁰ College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
¹¹ Clinical and Medical Sciences, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Abstract

Aims: To explore stakeholders' perceptions of a facilitator's role in supporting carers when embedding iSupport for Dementia psychoeducation program, in care services.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study design was applied. Data were collected from workshops and interviews with carers of people living with dementia (PLWD)and with health and social care professionals from two tertiary hospitals and two community aged care organisations across three Australian states between October 2021 and March 2022. A thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The COREQ guideline was followed to report our findings.

Results: A total of 30 family carers and 45 health and social care professionals participated in the study. Three main themes and seven subthemes were identified from the data. We described the main themes as (1) the facilitator's role at the time of dementia diagnosis, (2) the facilitator's role throughout the everyday dementia care journey and (3) the facilitator's role during transition moments.

Conclusions: Caring for family members with dementia is demanding and stressful for carers. Embedding a facilitator-enabled iSupport for Dementia program in hospital and community aged care settings has the potential to mitigate sources of stress associated with care recipient factors, carer factors and care service factors, and improve the health and well-being of carers and those for whom they care.

Relevance to clinical practice: Our findings will inform the establishment of iSupport facilitators appointed by dementia care providers in hospital and community care settings and help determine their roles and responsibilities in delivering the iSupport program. Our findings relate to nurse-led and coordinated dementia care in hospital and community aged care settings.

Patient or public contribution: This study was co-designed with stakeholders from two aged care organisations and two tertiary hospitals. The study participants were staff employed by these organisations and carers of PLWD who were service users.

Keywords: caregiver support; co-design; dementia; dementia care services; facilitator; family caregiver.

MeSH terms

Aged
Australia
Caregivers*
Dementia*
Health Services
Humans
Qualitative Research

Abstract

MeSH terms

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