Social care interface in early stage dementia: Practitioners' perspectives on the links between formal and informal networks

Citation Carpentier, N., Pomey, M, Conteras, R., & Olazabal, I. (2008) Social care interface in early stage dementia: Practitioners' perspectives on the links between formal and informal networks. Journal of Aging and Health, 20 (6), 710-738.

Design Exploratory study

Purpose The study investigated the interface between health care practitioners and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease living in the community.

Participants The participants were N=20 practitioners

Procedure Investigators interviewed 20 practitioners and analyzed contacts between practitioners and caregivers at the beginning of the care trajectory.

Outcomes The quality of practitioner/caregiver interface was determined by personal characteristics such as profiles and internal structures. Communication between formal and informal service networks could be improved by a greater understanding of microsocial and organizational level interactions and the implementation of a social model of care.

Author Carpentier, N., Pomey, M, Conteras, R., & Olazabal, I.