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A mismatch between supply and demand of social support in dementia care: a qualitative study on the perspectives of spousal caregivers and their social network members

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2017

Alieske E.H. Dam ,
Lizzy M.M. Boots ,
Martin P.J. van Boxtel ,
Frans R.J. Verhey  and
Marjolein E. de Vugt
Alieske E.H. Dam
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology/Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Lizzy M.M. Boots
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology/Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Martin P.J. van Boxtel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology/Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Frans R.J. Verhey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology/Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Marjolein E. de Vugt*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology/Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Marjolein E. de Vugt, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology/School for Mental Health and Neuroscience/Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Dr Tanslaan 12 (level 4 | room 4G3.068), P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. Phone: +31 (0)43 3877445. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

Access to social support contributes to feelings of independence and better social health. This qualitative study aims to investigate multi-informant perspectives on informal social support in dementia care networks.

Methods:

Ten spousal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) completed an ecogram, a social network card and a semi-structured interview. The ecogram aimed to trigger subjective experiences regarding social support. Subsequently, 17 network members were interviewed. The qualitative analyses identified codes, categories, and themes.

Results:

Sixth themes emerged: (1) barriers to ask for support; (2) facilitators to ask for support; (3) barriers to offer support; (4) facilitators to offer support; (5) a mismatch between supply and demand of social support; and (6) openness in communication to repair the imbalance.

Discussion:

Integrating social network perspectives resulted in a novel model identifying a mismatch between the supply and demand of social support, strengthened by a cognitive bias: caregivers reported to think for other social network members and vice versa. Openness in communication in formal and informal care systems might repair this mismatch.

Keywords

informal caregiversupport-seeking behaviornetwork perspectivesqualitative interviews
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Special Issue 6: Social Health , June 2018 , pp. 881 - 892
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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