Intermittent care and caregivers at home

The role of the caregivers of 22 patients treated in an intermittent nursing home programme was studied. Intermittent care was effective and often led to improvements in the patients. Because of their pronounced feeling of responsibility for these often very demanding patients, the main objection of the caregivers was that they wanted longer or more frequent nursing home periods than were currently offered. Half of the patients were regarded by the formal caregivers as more demanding than other clients in the home help service. In some cases the home helpers considered the patients more dependent in various activities of daily living than did the patients themselves. Meeting other people at the nursing home stimulated the patients and positively influenced the relationship between them and the home helpers. The most important aspect of intermittent care was its potential for variety, medical treatment and nursing care. The caregivers felt secure with it, which was necessary in order for them to relax when being relieved.