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The impact of befriending and peer support on family carers of people living with dementia: A mixed methods study.

Smith, R; Drennan, V; Mackenzie, A; Greenwood, N (2018) The impact of befriending and peer support on family carers of people living with dementia: A mixed methods study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 76. pp. 188-195. ISSN 1872-6976 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2018.03.005
SGUL Authors: Drennan, Vari MacDougal

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Volunteer led befriending and peer support is provided to a wide range of people with varying needs. Despite large numbers of such schemes for carers of people with dementia, there is little evidence for any benefits they may offer. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of befriending and peer support on carers of people with dementia and to explore their experiences of receiving the interventions using a mixed methods approach. METHODS: Nineteen carers of people with dementia were recruited from befriending and peer support services. Carers completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and UCLA Loneliness Scale at baseline, three months and six months. Of the 16 carers who completed the quantitative phase, eight took part in depth semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in perceived social support from a significant other between baseline and three months was found (Z = 2.487, p = 0.013). Qualitative findings showed befriending and peer support to be important sources of emotional and social support for carers, which was facilitated by the volunteers' experiential similarity. CONCLUSION: Volunteer led befriending and peer support offers carers of people with dementia emotional and social support which enables them to cope better with challenges and continue caring. This has important implications for potentially reducing breakdowns in carer mental and physical health. Future research should explore whether these finding are replicable in other locations and in more diverse populations.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywords: Befriending, Caregivers, Carers, Dementia, Peer support, Volunteers, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Dementia, Family, Female, Friends, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Peer Group, Social Support, Humans, Dementia, Family, Peer Group, Social Support, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Caregivers, Friends, Female, Male, Carers, Caregivers, Befriending, Peer support, Volunteers, Dementia, Befriending, Caregivers, Carers, Dementia, Peer support, Volunteers, 1103 Clinical Sciences, Geriatrics
Journal or Publication Title: Arch Gerontol Geriatr
ISSN: 1872-6976
Language: eng
Dates:
DateEvent
May 2018Published
7 March 2018Published Online
2 March 2018Accepted
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
PubMed ID: 29547740
Web of Science ID: WOS:000429508300028
Go to PubMed abstract
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/111071
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2018.03.005

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