Through their eyes
Informal carers’ experiences of supporting a person with dementia on an NHS mental health inpatient ward
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7146265 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hannah Partridge (0009-0002-9906-644X, University of Manchester, corresponding author), John Keady (0000-0001-8243-6913, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust), Lydia Morris (0009-0009-6153-4624, University of Manchester) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 2228-2254 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ageing and Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0144686x25000078 |
| OpenAlex | W4409115110 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 32 |
In the UK, when people with dementia are regarded as a risk to themselves or others, they are usually admitted compulsorily onto a National Health Service dementia inpatient ward, under the 1983 Mental Health Act. Remarkably little is known about the experiences of informal (family) carers supporting these individuals with dementia during their stay; this study is the first to explore those experiences. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 12 informal carers with a family member admitted to an NHS dementia inpatient ward in the Northwest of England were analysed. The reflexive thematic analysis identified 4 main themes – (1) Initial adjustment and transition; (2) Becoming a visitor; (3) Receiving support and sharing expertise; (4) Planning for the future – and 15 sub-themes. Some carers experienced traumatic events in the build-up to admission and felt overwhelmed, worried, guilty and stressed during the stay, whilst others felt relieved that the person with dementia was no longer at home. The ward environment was regarded as safe and practical, albeit ‘stark’. Staff care was seen as high-quality; carers appreciated support, when available, from a range of care staff and carer groups. Communication with ward staff was reported as ‘mixed’; positives were receiving information leaflets, attending ward rounds and having informal conversations with staff. Carers often felt excluded from future care planning. Preliminary suggestions for practice and policy recommendations include enhanced informal carer support during the admission, improved communication with ward staff, making the ward environment accessible and ‘homely’, and explaining staffing levels prior to admission
Dementia · Mental health · Psychiatry · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Nursing · Psychology
Subjectivity in psychological science
Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern‐based qualitative analytic approaches
A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Family experiences of inpatient mental health care for people with dementia
What do family caregivers of people with dementia need? A mixed‐method systematic review
The emotional labour of health-care assistants in inpatient dementia care
Only my family can help
Sample Size in Qualitative Interview Studies
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |