Families' perspectives on access to primary healthcare services for relatives living with dementia in Manitoba
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Date
2019-06-27
Authors
Oppong, Isaac
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Abstract
This study purports to find out from family members of persons living with dementia about primary healthcare services available, challenges faced by relatives living with dementia when accessing these services, and their responses on how to improve access to these services in Manitoba. A literature review was conducted to describe what other scholars have reported on this matter or field of study. The researcher adopted the social model of disability as the underlying concept for this study. As this model holds that social and attitudinal barriers affect persons living with disabilities, it is incumbent on society to provide all the essential accommodations for persons living with dementia to improve their health and well-being. This study employed a qualitative methodology with a case study design. Through a working relationship with the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, eight people who had relatives living with dementia were interviewed. Ethical procedures were followed and approval was given by the Joint-Faculty Research Ethics Board (JFREB). A consent form was given to each of the study participants who voluntarily agreed to engage in this project to sign. Based on the information shared by the family members, a case study approach was used to write their stories. The findings revealed that relatives living with dementia used various forms of primary healthcare services and other services such as specialists, home care, nursing homes, and personal care home services. In addition, relatives living with dementia faced difficulties when using primary healthcare and other services. As a result, the family caregivers made suggestions to improve access to primary healthcare and other services. Themes were created in order to discuss the results of this study. The researcher gave some recommendations that could be used to tackle dementia care and support for persons living with dementia in Manitoba and across Canada.
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Keywords
Families, Perspectives, Access, Primary healthcare services, Relatives living with dementia, Dementia, Caregiving support