Redes de apoyo Médico-social para pacientes con demencia. Comunas de Concepción y Quillón, 1996

Abstract

This descriptive community based study assesses the perception and use of medical and social support networks for demented patients. The universe were the families of demented patients of the WHO AGE ASSOCIATED DEMENTIA PROJECT in Chile and public and private health institutions. The data were collected through structured home and institutional interviews given to the caregives and statt in charge. The sample was composed of 70 families from Quillón and Concepción and 20 institutions, including resting homes, primary health centers and clinical services. Medical support is as mainly hospital and primary care consultation with a 34 and 20% respectively. Only 6% of the patients had domiciliary controls. Social support is given mainly by the family (83%). Next by friends with a 19% and religious group (15%). 93% of caregivers do not have information about community support services and in emergency the individuals most required for help are the siblings (36%) and professionals (11 %). The users are completely satisfied with the community services only in 8% of the cases. Regarding the institutions, 90% of them do not give services to demented patients. In the primary care system there are no specific programs for demented patients. In resting or nursing homes a serious lack of adequate infrastructure and qualified personnel for this patients was perceived. Our study confirms the urgent need to create these networks to satisfy the requirements of this patients and their families. It also emphasizes the need to promote the families caregivers association and the development of specialized institutions, with professional qualified staff to give a good quality service.