Factors influencing the use and provision of respite care services for older families of people with a severe mental illness

Abstract

Family carers of people with a severe mental illness play a vital, yet often unrecognized and undervalued role in Australian society. Respite care services can assist these family carers in their role; however, little is known about their access to these services. The paper addresses this knowledge gap. An exploratory field study was conducted throughout the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, to identify and examine the factors influencing the use and provision of respite services for older carers of people with a mental illness. Semistructured, in-depth interviews, and structured self-completed questionnaires were conducted with older family carers, mental health care professionals, and respite care service providers. Additionally, relevant documents (local policies, strategic plans and reports on respite care) were reviewed. It was found that current respite services are problematic for older family carers of Australians with a mental illness, signalling the need for concerted efforts by carers, health professionals, and service providers to improve access. Changes to respite provision and utilization are recommended.

Evaluation of a West Australian residential mental health respite service

“…Those disappointed with the service were in the minority, and their concerns related to the service's perceived proximity to liquor outlets and local drug networks (one family member/carer), the limited nature of therapeutic services offered (service providers), the co‐location of respite consumers in an existing residential service (service providers), and a perception that the service was unable to respond supportively (one consumer). Despite comparisons between the perspectives of each group being limited by the small number of family members/carers, consumers and service providers, their specific experiences and observations were generally consistent with views in the literature, that is, knowledge about available and suitable residential respite services is poor, and even when people are aware of services, there is a reluctance to use them (Jeon et al., ; Koopmanschap et al., ).…”

Perceptions on technology for volunteer respite care for bedridden elders in Chile

“…Additionally, Evans’ conceptual model of respite incorporates duration and flexibility as elements of the respite service; the former considers the time of the respite in hours, days or longer-term stay, while the latter considers the degree of adaptation to the service in terms of the caregiver’s selection of hours and length of time (Evans, 2013a). In effect, the lack of flexibility would be a barrier to accessing a respite (Jeon, Chenoweth, & McIntosh, 2007; Neville et al, 2015). …”

Caregiver Efficacy and Efficacy Determinants for Elderly Care Recipients Who Accept Home Respite Care in Taiwan

“…As for psychological emotion efficacies, respite services were able to improve psychological health to some extent but could not relieve pressure (Caradoc-Davies & Harvey, 1995). Therefore, such services have been shown to assist family caregivers to fulfill their family roles (Jeon, Chenoweth, & McIntosh, 2007). Respite care could also effectively share the emotional burden of caregivers (Nicoll, Ashworth, McNally, & Newman, 2002).…”