Review of Respite and Short Breaks for Carers for People with Dementia

Researchers: Hilary Arksey, Karen Croucher, Liz Newbronner, Phillipa Hare, Karen Jackson

Funder: NHS Service Delivery and Organisation

Duration: February 2003 to July 2003

Dementia is estimated to affect over 700,000 people in the UK; by 2010 the number of sufferers is expected to grow to 840,000. The majority of older dementia sufferes are cared for at home by a relative or friend. Caring for dementia sufferers is known to be physically and emotionally exhausting; carers' support needs are especially high. Respite care is a key support intervention, aiming to relieve carers of caring responsibilities in the short term, and offer a positive experience for the care recipient. Despite the potential range of service models, carers and care recipients often feel thay have little choice in what is available.

Aims of the review

The overall aim of the review was to establish the current state of knowledge about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of respite care and short breaks for carers for people with dementia. Within this the study had the following key objectives:

To identify the full range of respite services for carers for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, including younger people with dementia
To examine the evidence from published and grey literature about effective and cost-effective respite services for carers for people with dementia
To further develop existing conceptualisations of 'effectiveness' and 'cost-effectiveness' specifically in relation to respite services for carers for people with dementia
To identify examples of good practice of respite care and short breaks in health and social servcies, as well as the voluntary and independent sectors, for carers for people with dementia
To advise the SDO which areas should be a priority for further research, having identified key gaps in the evidence base

The views of key stakeholders were central to the review and informed its findings and recommendations.

Key stakeholders

Mental health and older people's organisations
Carers organisations and groups
Officers from national statutory bodies

Publications

2004

Respite care and short breaks: what works and at what cost?, 2004
Arksey, H. and Weatherly, H., Journal of Dementia Care, 12, 5, 33-37.

Review of respite services and short-term breaks for carers of people with dementia, 2004
Arksey, H., Jackson, K., Croucher, K., Weatherly, H., Golder, S., Hare, P., Newbronner, E. and Baldwin, S., National Health Service, Service Delivery Organisation.