22 December 2021
What follows diagnosis for people with dementia and their carers?
A qualitative study has identified twenty distinct components of post-diagnostic support
A new open access article reports the findings of a qualitative study based on interviews, focus groups and observation, which sought to explore the content of post-diagnostic support for those with dementia and their carers.
Participants included 17 people with dementia, 31 carers, 68 service managers or funders, and 78 frontline staff.
Twenty distinct components of post-diagnostic support were identified, related to five themes: timely identification and management of needs; understanding and managing dementia; emotional and psychological well-being; practical support; and integrating support.
The authors, led by Claire Bamford (Newcastle University) and including Prof Manthorpe, Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce at King's, remark: 'This paper is the first to our knowledge to use extensive qualitative research to identify the components of good post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia and their carers.'
Bamford, C., Wheatley, A., Brunskill, G., Booi, L., Allan, L., Banerjee, S., Harrison Dening, K., Manthorpe, J., & Robinson, L. (2021) Key components of post-diagnostic support for people with dementia and their carers: A qualitative study. PLoS One, 16(12), 1-23.
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Professor Emerita of Social Work