Challenges and Lifelines: What Was Important to Family Carers of People With Dementia Accessing the Admiral Nurse Services, a Specialist Family-Centered Dementia Support?

Abstract

Admiral Nurses (ANs), specialists in dementia, provide care management to families affected by dementia. A survey was designed to explore family carers’ views on the care received. A mixed-method survey questionnaire was distributed to all carers in receipt of AN services, or those recently discharged. This article presents the qualitative findings. Three overarching themes emerged from the data: “value of bio-medical, practical, psychosocial, and local expertise”; “transformative impact on carers”; and “availability/responsiveness.” Difficulties included navigating the system, unlocking resources and support, fragile service provision, understanding/coping with dementia, isolation, and guilt. Respondents highly rated the support provided by ANs, with outcomes affirmative for “positive experience of care and support” and “enhanced quality of life for carers” domains of National Health Service (NHS) Outcome Framework for England and Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework. While results suggest ANs successfully facilitated continuity of care, carers still felt exposed to potential cuts to services.