Lay help to reduce dementia caregiver's burden: results of a project in Goettingen, Germany and conclusions for a broader audience

Abstract

International studies showed that caregiver interventions are efficacious especially when they provide the possibility to be free from caregiver role for some hours (holidays for some hours). However, lay helpers should be trained for their role.

Based on the previous experiences of other groups the memory clinic of the Medical Faculty of the University of Goettingen, Germany initiated a cooperation with a diaconic social service provider. The latter provided the organisation of care (caregivers contact, a nurse makes a home visit to assess the needs, the lay helper is informed), while the memory clinic organises the selection and training of the helpers and the scientific evaluation, which has been paid by the government by the federal state of Lower Saxony.

Media promotion raised much interest. Sixty-four of 180 applicants finally finished a 40-hours-training including role play and group discussions. The training included information on the disease, its diagnosis and treatment, legal situation, caregiver burden and typical problems in communication. Noone regarded the training as too long. Lay helpers were mostly female and about every fifth had a professional background in the psychosocial area. They were attracted by the possibility to get further qualification and work in a more flexible setting. All lay helpers got a certificate and an insurance for the service related work. The service reached mostly caregivers of severely demented patients. It was for the first time, that lay help service ist organised by a medical (university) facility.