The role of carers in evaluating mental health services for older people

Dening, Tom; Lawton, Claire

Abstract

Objectives. To examine, using the published literature and local service experience, the contributions that carers can make to the development and evaluation of specialist mental health services for the elderly. Methods. MEDLINE search for relevant papers about carers and the elderly, especially with mental disorders; review of recent experience of service planning, implementation and evaluation in the Cambridge area. Results. Increased emphasis on the role of carers in recent literature, extending into acknowledgement of the carer perspective in official publications; few papers on the role of carers specifically in evaluating services, with only one study looking solely at an old age psychiatry service. Conclusions. There is considerable scope for involving carers in the development and evaluation of services, though there are also some potential concerns, not least that carers and users may have different perspectives. These issues are discussed, along with possible future developments, such as the need for a standardized assessment of carer satisfaction.

Citation

Dening, T., & Lawton, C. (1998). The role of carers in evaluating mental health services for older people. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(12), 863-870. https://doi.org/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-1166%281998120%2913%3A12%3C863%3A%3AAID-GPS885%3E3.0.CO%3B2-L

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 24, 1998
• Online Publication Date: Jan 8, 1999
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 1998
• Deposit Date: Jul 30, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
• Print ISSN: 0885-6230
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 863-870
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-1166%281998120%2913%3A12%3C863%3A%3AAID-GPS885%3E3.0.CO%3B2-L
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/17090407
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-1166%281998120%2913%3A12%3C863%3A%3AAID-GPS885%3E3.0.CO%3B2-L