The analysis indicated a lack of information and continued support following a diagnosis. In the absence of information and support, caring partners described difficulty understanding and adjusting to behavioural, physical and psychological changes in their partner. A greater understanding of the condition was beneficial in terms of adjustment and emotional responses to a partner.
This review examines how people understand and make sense of a dementia diagnosis. The review explores how lay frameworks and information presented at diagnosis may inform a caregiver's understanding of dementia in a family member. Existing qualitative research exploring how caregivers understand and make sense of dementia is reviewed. A literature search was conducted, and the results indicated that family carers often receive little or unclear information about dementia, with diagnostic information often delivered in euphemistic terms. Lack of clarity regarding diagnosis and prognosis creates uncertainty for caregivers and impacts future care planning. Caregiver's understandings of the condition vary, with some symptoms often not attributed to the condition. The literature highlights significant gaps and misconceptions in public knowledge regarding dementia, which raises questions about how family caregivers understand the condition. Further research is required to explore how information is presented to family carers at the time of diagnosis and how this is used to understand the condition.
This study identifies perceptions on the features that are of greater or lesser value to successful life story work with looked after and adopted children. Using a Q-methodology approach, 29 participants from professional and service-user backgrounds ranked 57 statements designed to chart their views on the features they thought important for successful life story work. Participants clustered into three groups based on their views. In all three groups, respondents indicated that good life story work should involve helping a child to express and manage emotions that arise during the work. However, on other issues opinions were more varied. One group thought that life story work needs to provide a safe and supportive exploration of a coherent life narrative. A second one held that it needs to be a child-led, ongoing approach based on here-and-now relationships. The final group highlighted the need for a comprehensive and adaptable record. Links are made with attachment theory and existing models of life story work. Clinical and research implications are provided with an emphasis on the role for clinical psychologists in this work.
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