Practice evaluation report: a social support group for caregivers of dementia elderly

Abstract

This practice evaluation report aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a six-session social support group which was targeted at seven caregivers of dementia elderly in the psychiatric centre. The burden of family caregivers with dementia elderly was found that they cannot be ignored. The group was held to empower the abilities of caregivers and to understand more community resources so as to relieve their stress and gain more support. The intervention was designed based on strengths perspective, positive psychology and cognitive behaviour therapy. The interventions were evaluated by natural observation, as well as a pre-post-test and the on-going feedback that I collected from the group members at the end of each group session. Most of the members had shown improvement in observation and from the result of pre-post-test based on the scale. The improvement of members’ performance had suggested that the social support was essential for caregiver of dementia elderly to reduce stress because they have extended the social support network through the group and have understood more how to take care of dementia elderly and to know more about the available formal and informal resources/supports. The psychiatric centre was recommended that the programme could be run in parallel groups. Some group members revealed that they need to take care of their demented elderly. They need to settle the elderly at home or find other family members to look after the elderly when group members went out to join the group session. Hence, parallel groups are suggested and the demented elderly could participate in the group activity which helps to reduce the deterioration process of the cognitive and social functioning of the persons with dementia.