Making personalised short breaks meaningful: a future research agenda to connect academia, policy and practice

Making personalised short breaks meaningful: a future research agenda to connect academia, policy and practice Diane Seddon, Emma Miller, Louise Prendergast, Don Williamson, Joyce Elizabeth Cavaye Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- There is a growing policy impetus to promote carer well-being through the provision of personalised short breaks. However, understanding of what makes for a successful personalised short break is limited. This paper aims to identify key evidence gaps and considers how these could be addressed. A scoping review mapping the evidence base relevant to respite and short breaks for carers for older people, including those living with dementia, was completed. National and international literature published from 2000 onwards was reviewed. The scoping review focused on well-being outcomes, identified by previous research, as being important to carers. Most studies investigating the outcomes of short breaks for carers supporting older people focus on traditional day and residential respite care. Although there have been developments in more personalised break options for carers, research exploring their impact is scarce. There is limited knowledge about how these personalised breaks might support carers to realise important outcomes, including carer health and well-being; a life alongside caring; positive caregiving relationships; choices in caring; and satisfaction in carin...
Source: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: research