Welfare Reform on the Web (December 2002): Social Care - Overseas

TIME SPENT ON INFORMAL AND FORMAL CARE GIVING FOR PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA IN SWEDEN

A.Wimo

Health Policy, vol. 61, 2002, p. 255-268

Paper explores time spent on caring by families of persons with dementia in Sweden. Survey results showed that informal care, measured in hours spent caring, was about 8.5 times greater than formal services. Some carers carried a very heavy 24 hour responsibility. This aspect of caring needs to be addressed by the development of well-targeted relief and support programmes.