Role of community mental health nurses for people with dementia

This is an exploratory study into how eight family carers of people living with dementia perceived the role of their community mental health nurse (CMHN). Using a descriptive qualitative approach with semistructured interviews, areas of the CMHNs' role that the eight carers found supportive were identified and discussed under four main themes: (1) emotional support and advice (2) liaison and networking (3) training and information giving and (4) isolation and loneliness. The study also highlighted certain qualities of the CMHN which were found to be valuable and helpful to the carers. This study suggests that the carers of people living with dementia have many varied needs and they perceive the role of the CMHN as very important and valuable in terms of supporting them in caring for their loved ones. Although not intended as a focus of the study, the carers also highlighted certain desirable qualities in the CMHN that may have implications for all those involved in ensuring a high standard of community mental health nursing service to this client group.