Dementia Caregivers' Experiences Engaging Supportive Services While Residing in Under-Resourced Areas

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Social Work
• Caregiver Support Services

Background:

• Family caregivers of individuals with dementia require supportive services for caregiving needs.
• Research indicates consistently low rates of service utilization among these caregivers.
• Limited research has explored the impact of caregivers' environmental context on service accessibility and use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perspectives of caregivers in socially disadvantaged areas regarding the utilization of supportive services.
• To understand the factors influencing service engagement for dementia caregivers in underserved communities.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in-depth interviews with ten informal caregivers residing in socially disadvantaged areas.
• Employed thematic analysis to interpret caregiver experiences with supportive services.

Main Results:

• Caregivers often initiated service use during crises or when needs accumulated.
• A distinct sequence of service engagement stages (seeking, initiating, utilizing) was identified.
• Personal, familial, health, and social system factors significantly influenced caregiver experiences with services.

Conclusions:

• Caregivers' service needs evolve as dementia progresses.
• Gerontological social work practice can play a crucial role in facilitating supportive service use.
• Findings offer insights for future research and interventions to enhance service use in underserved communities.