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Vraaggerichte ondersteuning van mantelzorgers: behoeftenonderzoek bij het Logeerhuis Twente

Giesen, D.M. (2010) Vraaggerichte ondersteuning van mantelzorgers: behoeftenonderzoek bij het Logeerhuis Twente.

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Abstract:	In March 2009 the foundation ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ was established in order to create a respite service for caregivers in the Dutch region of Twente. Caregivers are citizens who provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner. While caregiving is often related to positive feelings, negative effects may arise for caregivers, hampering their health and functionality. Good support of caregivers can reduce these negative consequences. Respite care is a kind of support in which caregiving responsibilities are taken over in order to provide the caregiver with temporary relief. The ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ has developed four respite packages. Respite packages consist of time for recreation, relaxing and resting, but also participation in educative‐ and empowerment workshops is possible. The currently existing respite packages are: 1. Relaxation package for caregivers and care recipients together 2. Relaxation package for caregivers alone 3. Relaxation package for care recipients alone 4. Empowerment package for caregivers alone The purpose of this master thesis is to create insight concerning the demand for the respite packages, both in a quantitative and a qualitative manner. In order to create a balance between the offered service package and the demand, it is important to know the caregiver’s needs and intentions to participate in the respite packages. These insights are obtained by means of a survey research in which 143 caregivers participated. An environmental analysis pointed out that the concept ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ fits into the current developments within the society. There is an increasing appeal for caregiving and the Dutch government attempts to stimulate caregiving and support of caregivers on local level by means of the Wmo (Law for Public Support). Although the concept fits well into the national policy, possibilities for governmental funding are small. The funding of the ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ will therefore largely depend on other stakeholders. Analysis of other providers of care, support and recreation programs pointed out that the ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ can distinguish itself from others by several characteristics. While there are already various possibilities for care recipients regionally, opportunities for caregivers or couples are limited. The combined provision of a domestic atmosphere, stimulation of social interaction between guests and the special attention for caregivers is a scarce commodity. The advice is to use these unique selling propositions both in marketing campaigns directed at potential guests as well as in negotiations and requests for funding. Respondents showed most interest in the empowerment package for caregivers alone (57%) and in the relaxation package for caregivers and care recipients together (50%). Although intentions are the best predictors of actual behaviour, research has shown that the intention overestimates actual behaviour. That’s why a correction has been applied. Generalization towards a larger population of 4000 caregivers in Twente is difficult because of a large non‐response which might be selective. Using the theoretically correct method for generalizing the results, the ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ can expect between 248 and 1554 guests a year. A more practical indication of the nonvi response information results in an estimation of 513 guests a year. The price respondents would pay per person for one night based on full board is €35 on average. In order to gain insight in the decision‐making process of caregivers about participation in the respite packages, the Theory of Planned Behaviour has been used. According to this theory, the intention to perform a particular behaviour is the result of the following three constructs: 1) attitude towards the behaviour, 2) subjective norm and social pressure, and 3) perceived control about performing the behaviour. The decision to participate in a respite package turned out to be determined almost solely by the construct ‘attitude’. The impression caregivers get from the packages is by far more important in the decision‐making than social pressure and the degree in which the respondents perceived facilitating or limiting factors. The large influence of the construct ‘attitude’ seems to be plausible according to literature regarding barriers for using respite care. However, according to the same literature, some influence of factors which are thought to be facilitating or limiting the respondents’ control about the behaviour should exist. Therefore, an advice about preconditions which stimulate the use of respite care is given based on the ‘Pyramid of Effective Respite Care’. Transparency of costs and compensations seems to be important, as well as support of caregivers with the organization of the respite packages and substitute care. These preconditions demand for good cooperation between the ‘Logeerhuis Twente’, financers, referring professionals and providers of substitute care. Based on a literature study and expert‐judgements about application within the ‘Logeerhuis Twente’, 26 caregiver needs are selected for this research. Caregiver interests to fulfill these needs during the stay are investigated both for single needs as well as for components of clustered needs. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) resulted in nine components, from which seven were included for further investigation. These are the components ‘Dealing with feelings’, ‘Information’, ‘Luxury’, ‘Relaxing’, ‘Social contacts’, ‘Focus on disorder’ and ‘Contemplation’. Together these components cover 20 of the 26 needs; the remaining six needs have been analyzed on an individual level. Analysis of the needs pointed out that the respondents have very large interest in relaxing and resting, reasonably large interest in needs related to the components ‘Dealing with feelings’, ‘Information’ and ‘Social contact’. Interest in needs related to the component ‘Contemplation’ is small. With respect to the design of the ‘Logeerhuis Twente’ it can be concluded that a domestic atmosphere is very important, as is the degree of stimulation of the care recipient. Respondents ask for respite packages in which groups are homogeneous with respect to the type of disorder, and where personnel has specific knowledge of this type of disorder. Grouping caregivers based on disorder types can cater to this request. A lot of caregivers (37%) gave preference to being only together with other caregivers, rather than being together with care recipients they don’t know. In order to get an idea about possibilities to use the components in the designing process, a proposition is made. Distinctions are made between easily accessible and undemanding basic levels of the components, and additional levels which are more demanding and powerful. vii Variations between groups of caregivers have also been investigated. Groups of caregivers which have needs and intentions significantly different from other groups are a) caregivers perceiving a substantial burden, b) caregivers within the mental health care, and c) caregivers of middle age. While caregivers of middle age ask for a lot of rest and relaxation, the other two groups show a lot more interest in support and empowerment techniques. Based on this research, it is recommended to reduce the service into two types of respite packages; the first a package for caregivers and care recipients together and a second one for caregivers alone. This last respite package can be directly differentiated towards the three groups with the significantly different needs. The advice is not to offer packages for care recipients alone, because of low interest, relatively strong requirements from respondents, and a relatively strong competition for this type of respite package by existing providers. This results in the following recommendations regarding the offered respite packages: d 1) Respite package for caregivers and care recipients together This respite package is directed to older couples outside the mental healthcare, who want to gain new experiences and social contacts together. During the stay a lot of time will be spend on excursions and social events. Support with respect to the components ‘Dealing with feelings’ and ‘Information’ is implemented in an easily accessible form, playing a minor role. 2a) Respite package for caregivers of middle age This respite package is directed towards caregivers of middle age who frequently combine duties like jobs and household tasks with caregiving. Within this package, the focus is on relaxation and resting, which is realized by a lot of free time, nature enjoyment and wellness activities. During the period of the package, care recipients are not present at the location. Support with respect to the components ‘Dealing with feelings’ and ‘Information’ is implemented in an easily accessible form, playing a minor role. 2b) Respite package for caregivers perceiving a substantial burden During this respite package only caregivers are at the accommodation, and there is a lot of attention for support, empowerment and social interaction between caregivers. Support with respect to the components ‘Dealing with feelings’ and ‘Information’ plays a more important and powerful role. Concerning the component ‘Information’, the demand is largest for information about possibilities for respite and substitute care. 2c) Respite package for caregivers within mental healthcare The design of this respite package is similar to the one for burdened caregivers, although there’s a particular focus on mental healthcare in the program and staff during the package. There are no care recipients at the accommodation, and support with respect to the components ‘Dealing with feelings’ and ‘Information’ plays a more important role. Concerning the component ‘Information’, the demand is largest for information about dealing with emotions and behaviour of care recipients.
Item Type:	Essay (Master)
Clients:	Logeerhuis Twente
Faculty:	BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:	85 business administration, organizational science
Programme:	Business Administration MSc (60644)
Link to this item:	https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/59950
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