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Lookup NU author(s): Professor John Bond, Dr Barbara Gregson, Claire BamfordORCiD, Paul McNamee
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This paper describes the extent of the informal caregiving unit for older people who are physically or mentally frail living in private households or resident in long-term care institutions using cross-sectional analysis of survey data. A total of 1444 people aged 65 years or more registered with a general practitioner (GP) in four areas in England and, consenting to the study, were screened for mental or physical frailty. Of 1127 older subjects living at home 7% reported receiving no informal support, 15% had a paid supporter only and 78% nominated a key informal supporter who helped with defined activities of daily living of whom 650 (74%) were interviewed. Only 13% nominated more than one informal supporter. Key supporters were spouses (38%), daughters (30%), sons (9%), daughters-in-law (4%), other relatives (11%) and friends and neighbours (8%). Of 317 frail older people resident in long-term care institutions 175 (55%) received a main visitor at least once a week of whom 132 (75%) were interviewed. Main visitors were spouses (11%), daughters (36%), sons (23%), daughters-in-law (2%), other relatives (24%) and friends (4%). Qureshi & Walker's (1989) hierarchical, decision-making model for selecting informal caregivers was applied to the data and correctly identified 85% of key informal supporters and 79% of main visitors interviewed. This large-scale comprehensive survey of informal care for frail older people supports earlier small-scale localized studies highlighting the key role of spouses and daughters in the provision of informal support. Families of frail older people provide the support to maintain people at home.
Author(s): Resource Implications Study Group of the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function & Ageing Study, (RIS MRC CFAS), Writing Committee, Bond J, Farrow G, Gregson BA, Bamford C, Buck D, McNamee P, Wright K
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Health and Social Care in the Community
Year: 1999
Volume: 7
Issue: 6
Pages: 434-444
Print publication date: 01/11/1999
ISSN (print): 0966-0410
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2524
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2524.1999.tb00244.x
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.1999.tb00244.x
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