Use of health and human services by community-residing people with dementia

Ronald W. Toseland, Philip McCallion, Todd Gerber, Caroline Dawson, Susan Gieryic, Vincent Guilamo-Ramos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article reports on the use of and need for health and human services by community-residing people with dementia. Telephone interviews were conducted with a sample of 608 caregivers of such individuals who were randomly selected from a dementia registry. Caregivers reported using an average of 3.2 health services and 3.7 human services to assist them in the care of the person with dementia. Despite the high level of services use, 73 percent of the caregivers indicated a high need for at least one additional service, and 72 percent indicated that additional services would reduce the likelihood of institutionalization of the recipient. Although services use was more frequent than expected, many caregivers lacked knowledge about services, a fact that suggested that social workers have a vital information and referral role to play.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)535-548
Number of pages14
JournalSocial Work
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1999

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Caregiving
  • Community care
  • Dementia
  • Frail elderly people

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Use of health and human services by community-residing people with dementia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this