Perceived Help-Seeking Difficulty, Barriers, Delay, and Burden in Carers of People with Suspected Dementia

Carmen K.M. Ng, Dara K.Y. Leung, Xinxin Cai and Gloria H.Y. Wong
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Carmen K.M. Ng: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Dara K.Y. Leung: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Xinxin Cai: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Gloria H.Y. Wong: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Because of an often complicated and difficult-to-access care system, help-seeking for people with suspected dementia can be stressful. Difficulty in help-seeking may contribute to carer burden, in addition to other known stressors in dementia care. This study examined the relationship between perceived help-seeking difficulty and carer burden, and the barriers contributing to perceived difficulty. We interviewed 110 carers accessing a community-based dementia assessment service for suspected dementia of a family member for their perceived difficulty, delays, and barriers in help-seeking, and carers burden in terms of role strain, self-criticism, and negative emotions. Linear regression models showed that perceived help-seeking difficulty is associated with carer self-criticism, while carer role strain and negative emotions are associated with symptom severity of the person with dementia but not help-seeking difficulty. Inadequate knowledge about symptoms, service accessibility, and affordability together explained more than half of the variance in perceived help-seeking difficulty (Nagelkerke R 2 = 0.56). Public awareness about symptoms, support in navigating service, and financial support may reduce perceived difficulty in help-seeking, which in turn may reduce carer self-criticism during the early course of illness.

Keywords: service accessibility; dementia knowledge; affordability; carer role strain; self-criticism; negative emotions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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