The values and qualities of being a good helper: A qualitative study of adult foster home caregivers for persons with serious mental illness

Abstract

Background-Canadian foster homes for adults with serious mental illness are operated by nonprofessional caregivers, usually women, whose mandate is to support residents and reintegrate them into the community. While mental health professionals recognize that adult foster homes are an important service for this population, there is little understanding of how caregivers impact on the lives of their residents.

Social support, social conflict, and immigrant women's mental health in a Canadian context: a scoping review

“…, Nadeau & Meacham , Piat et al . , O'Mahony & Donnelly , ). Mental health practitioners must also encourage the creation, funding, and evaluation of programmes for newcomers to reduce isolation and facilitate the social inclusion.…”

Community families: A qualitative study of families who volunteer to support persons with severe mental illness

“…Most people with SMI who participated in the Community Family programme had lived much of their adult life in contact with the social services system, and some had lived in an institutional context. A qualitative study of professional foster families showed that interactions with people with SMI were guided by clearly articulated values and personal qualities such as patience, experience, self-mastery and good judgement (Piat, Ricard, Sabetti, & Beauvais, 2007). The overall conclusion was that caring for people with SMI requires knowledge and experience.…”

Les conditions d'hébergement favorables au rétablissement : perspective des usagers et usagères

“…Arriver à rencontrer ses mensualités sans devoir se priver de besoins de base, dont une saine alimentation, est une première condition de rétablissement. Viennent ensuite les commodités qu'offre l'hébergement, l'espace dont on y dispose, la beauté des lieux et le quartier environnant, ce que la recherche a également reconnu comme des facteurs de rétablissement (Harkness, Newman et Salkever, 2004 ;Walker et Seasons, 2002 La contribution des relations sociales au rétablissement des personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux graves est largement documentée dans la littérature (Boydell, 2006 ;Browne et Courtney, 2005 ;Dayson, 1992 ;Dayson, Lee-Jones, Chahal et Leff, 1998 ;Piat, Ricard, Sabetti et Beauvais, 2007 ;Wright et Kloos, 2007 (Brunt et Hansson, 2004 ;Leff et al, 2009). …”