Perceived value of support for older adults coping with multi-morbidity: patient, informal care-giver and family physician perspectives

Abstract

This study investigated the perceived value of informal and formal supports for older adults with multi-morbidity from the perspectives of patients, care-givers and family physicians. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with  patients, their informal care-givers and their family physicians in an urban academic family health team in Ontario. Analysis was conducted using a General Inductive Approach to facilitate identification of main themes and build a framework of perceived value of supports. Participant views converged on supports that facilitate patient independence and ease care-giver burden. However, important differences in participant perceptions arose regarding these priorities. Physicians and care-givers valued supports that facilitate health and safety while patients prioritised supports that enable self-efficacy and independence. While formal supports which eased care-giver burden were viewed positively by all members of the triad, many patients also rejected formal supports, citing that informal support from their care-giver was available. Such conflicts between patient, care-giver and physician-perceived value of supports may have important implications for consumer and care-giver willingness to accept formal supports when supports are available. These findings contribute to the broader literature on community-based care by incorporating the perspectives of patients, informal

Patients’ experiences of coping with multiple chronic conditions: A meta‐ethnography of qualitative work

“…), and these personal perceptions may or may not be in line with the perspectives of health professionals (Naganathan et al . ). The current study did not compare the difference in perceptions between the patients and providers but it is necessary to pay attention to this area because understanding illness perceptions are significant as they are capable of predicting a patient's behaviours (Hagger & Orbell ).…”

Gender and socio‐economic inequalities in health and living conditions among co‐resident informal caregivers: a nationwide survey in Spain

“…, Naganathan et al . ). Lastly, the fact that the most common form of support was informal confirms the responsibility borne by families in caring for dependent members and might point out the scarcity of formal resources and an increased lack of access to socio‐health services in Spain (Garcés et al .…”

“…One explanation could lie in the fact that formal support from public or private sources can take time to arrive, whether because of a lack of economic resources preventing the contracting of services or because of a shortage of socio-health resources for bureaucratic and political reasons so often appears when the caregiver's health has already been damaged (Sarasa 2007, Kusano et al 2011, which highlight the importance of linking caregivers to available healthcare services that can reduce health inequalities by designing and implementing effective social and health promotion interventions in time. However, informal support tends to be available from the outset, due to its characteristics of family solidarity and continuity over time, facts that may help to protect the health of the primary caregivers (Tolkacheva et al 2011, Naganathan et al 2015. Lastly, the fact that the most common form of support was informal confirms the responsibility borne by families in caring for dependent members and might point out the scarcity of formal resources and an increased lack of access to socio-health services in Spain (Garc es et al 2010, Hern andez Quevedo & Jim enez Rubio 2011.…”

“…The 80% of care provided comes exclusively from families, which is performed mainly by women and 79Á3% of the primary caregivers co-reside with the care recipients (National Statistics Institute, 2008). This type of care is usually called 'informal care' and is characterized by guaranteeing complete, continuous and unpaid care, covering the needs of dependent persons who mostly prefer to remain living at home and combine informal and formal care over institutionalized care (Naganathan et al 2015). Given the socio-demographic trends regarding population ageing, the rising prevalence of certain chronic diseases, changes in family models and incorporation of women in the workforce, the increase in care-demand should be taken into account for policy development (IMSERSO 2005, Zunzunegui 2011.…”

Self-perceived Mental Health of Older Adults in Canada

“…This vision has spear-headed the development of practices and policy to promote physical, mental and social wellbeing such that individuals' autonomy, independence, and quality of life in their preferred residence is sustained. Although meritorious, aging at home practices must address the complex realities of older adults who live with variable social, physical, and mental vulnerabilities (Cattan, 2009;Chadwick & Collins, 2015;Donner et al, 2015;Dupuis-Blanchard et al 2015;Kuluski, Williams, Berta, & Laporte, 2012;Naganathan et al, 2016). Individual and contextual vulnerabilities can threaten the overall well-being of older adults who desire to age in place.…”