TITLE:
Family caregivers of demented elderly people and access to medical care: Who gets worn out, why and what for?
AUTHORS:
Cyril Hazif-Thomas, Marie-Hélène Tritschler-LeMaître, Philippe Thomas
KEYWORDS:
Dementia; Family; Caregiver; Medical Care Access; Dignity; Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.3 No.2,
April
15,
2013
ABSTRACT: Demented persons in the process
of slowly becoming dependent have to rely on the assistance of others. These others
are health professionals (formal care), on the one hand and family carers (informal
care) on the other hand. The latter, whether or not they have chosen to play a role
which is hardly defined officially, have to face many difficult situations such
as complicated access to care due to lack of equal opportunities under the health
system, unable to support them efficiently. Taking care of a demented patient
is a life challenge often leading to burn out, having impact on physical and mental
health. Caregivers may thus even have no time or opportunity to take care of their
own health. So, is it not high time for the decision-makers to think it over and
take care of the carers by setting up programs and giving them the opportunity to
learn, to work as a team with the professionals so as to protect themselves and
their dignity as well as that of their patients. The difficulties/problems carers
of demented patients may encounter should be a major issue for public health care
because their role is a vital one and because the consequences which may have
on their own health can be negative.