Home health aide services: barriers perceived by dementia family caregivers

This study explored barriers to using home health aide services as perceived by family caregivers of relatives with dementia. The authors analyzed data collected from interviews of 32 family caregivers of relatives with dementia. The major findings included the recurrent theme of cost/expectation, which emerged as a major barrier to using home health aide services. Caregivers in many cases indicated that the price paid for services outweighed benefits; however they continued to use home health aide services. Implications for home healthcare nurses are discussed.