[Consulting service for family members of people with dementia-Results of the qualitative evaluation of a dementia support center].

Abstract

Background: Of the people with dementia in Germany, two thirds are cared for by relatives. The Dementia Support Center in Ammerland and the surrounding area offers these relatives counselling on nursing and social issues.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Dementia Support Center in Ammerland by investigating the expectations, experiences and wishes of relatives in relation to the Dementia Support Center.

Material and methods: Guided interviews were conducted with relatives of people suffering from dementia who made use of the counselling service of the Dementia Support Center. The 12 individual interviews were conducted by telephone between March and December 2023 and transcribed verbatim. The contents of the interviews were summarized using the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring in the data analysis software MAXQDA12.

Results: The relatives reported a high level of satisfaction with the counselling offered by the Dementia Support Center. Through the counselling they experienced a relief in caring for people with dementia. The good accessibility, high professional competence and empathetic demeanor of the care coordinators were perceived as positive. With respect to the further development of the Dementia Support Center, the relatives wanted the center to be more present and have regular events, such as family meetings.

Conclusion: In view of demographic changes and the predicted increase in people with dementia, appropriate counselling services should be expanded and further developed in line with the needs.