PPA 419 – Aging Services Administration Lecture 8b – Informal and Formal Care of the Elderly

Source J. Wiles. (2002). Informal caregivers’ experiences of formal support in a changing context. Health and Social Care in the Community, 11 (3), J. Wiles. (2002). Informal caregivers’ experiences of formal support in a changing context. Health and Social Care in the Community, 11 (3),

Introduction As the location of long-term care of elderly people moves to homes and communities, and responsibility for care shifts families, understanding the experience of people in this situation is necessary to ensure that support is appropriate, accessible and effective. As the location of long-term care of elderly people moves to homes and communities, and responsibility for care shifts families, understanding the experience of people in this situation is necessary to ensure that support is appropriate, accessible and effective.

Methodology The present paper explores informal caregivers’ and recipients’ relationships with formal support, drawing on thematic and narrative analysis of 30 in-depth interviews with self-identified family caregivers conducted over a year in a mid-size city in Ontario, Canada. The present paper explores informal caregivers’ and recipients’ relationships with formal support, drawing on thematic and narrative analysis of 30 in-depth interviews with self-identified family caregivers conducted over a year in a mid-size city in Ontario, Canada. The semistructured interviews explored caregivers’ knowledge about, and perceptions and experiences of accessing and using formal support. The semistructured interviews explored caregivers’ knowledge about, and perceptions and experiences of accessing and using formal support.

Findings All but six of these caregivers had some interaction with formal support. All but six of these caregivers had some interaction with formal support. Interpretation reveals how confusion and lack of knowledge about services, the inflexibility and lack of availability of services, and increasing pressure on the quantity and quality of publicly funded community-based resources combine to impact negatively on the experience of accessing and using formal support. Interpretation reveals how confusion and lack of knowledge about services, the inflexibility and lack of availability of services, and increasing pressure on the quantity and quality of publicly funded community-based resources combine to impact negatively on the experience of accessing and using formal support.

Findings Different ideas about the relative roles and responsibilities of seniors, informal caregivers, and ‘family’ in general, and the state both shape and are shaped by policies and the situated realities of the provision of formal support. Different ideas about the relative roles and responsibilities of seniors, informal caregivers, and ‘family’ in general, and the state both shape and are shaped by policies and the situated realities of the provision of formal support. Providing care creates both opportunities and constraints for caregivers in their interactions with formal support. Providing care creates both opportunities and constraints for caregivers in their interactions with formal support.

Conclusions Lastly, this paper highlights the difficulties of interacting with publicly funded formal support as the costs of care are moved away from the state and onto families and individuals. Lastly, this paper highlights the difficulties of interacting with publicly funded formal support as the costs of care are moved away from the state and onto families and individuals. The prevalent theme in caregivers’ reflections on their experiences of using publicly funded support services is that their use of those services is an ongoing and constantly negotiated process. The prevalent theme in caregivers’ reflections on their experiences of using publicly funded support services is that their use of those services is an ongoing and constantly negotiated process.

Conclusions Formal support was effective where services were good quality, where the relationship between health professionals and those receiving help were respectful and continuous, and where services perceived as appropriate were provided. Formal support was effective where services were good quality, where the relationship between health professionals and those receiving help were respectful and continuous, and where services perceived as appropriate were provided. But the professionals are under pressure to limit, control, and reduce expenditure on the services provided. But the professionals are under pressure to limit, control, and reduce expenditure on the services provided. This means that a significant amount of the work is passed on to caregivers, both to maintain the quality and amount of those services which are provided, and to make up shortfalls where services are lacking. This means that a significant amount of the work is passed on to caregivers, both to maintain the quality and amount of those services which are provided, and to make up shortfalls where services are lacking.

Caveats Based on community-based services in Ontario, Canada, which has the most extensive services in Canada. Canada has a more extensive set of services than the United States. Based on community-based services in Ontario, Canada, which has the most extensive services in Canada. Canada has a more extensive set of services than the United States. But, based on a system that assumes that most care will be provided by informal caregivers. But, based on a system that assumes that most care will be provided by informal caregivers. Also, initiated in an era of shrinking budgets. Also, initiated in an era of shrinking budgets.