title: 'It's easier just to separate them': practice constructions in the mental health care and support of younger people with dementia and their families.
abstract: There is no standard model of specialist care for younger people with dementia (onset before the age of 65 years) and specialist service provision varies widely throughout the UK. In order to gain a clearer picture about ways in which clinical staff work with younger people with dementia, semi-structured interviews were conducted with dementia care staff working in the north-west of England. Interviews focused on exploring daily working practices and the meaning placed on clinical decision making when involving family/carers in routine practice. Content analysis generated three core themes: (1) Maintaining Separation: how clinical staff conceptualize the meaning of 'family' in the provision of dementia care services; (2) Providing Practical Help: the focus in care provision on assisting families with aspects of daily life such as finances, education and physical care; and (3) Acknowledging the Family Context: how staff understand and interact with family members in an attempt to initiate care, utilizing biographically informed practice. By understanding how staff view their role in providing younger people with dementia with effective, high-quality dementia care, it is anticipated that a more family-centred approach can be integrated into already established patterns of working that more holistically meet the needs of this group.
authors: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada. pamela.m.roach@albertahealthservices.ca
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Roach
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Keady
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bee
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004739:England; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult