Dementia: supportive groups for relatives.

Abstract

We describe two years' experience of supportive groups for the relatives of elderly demented patients, who were inpatients, day patients, and outpatients served by the German Hospital Psychogeriatric Unit. Most patients suffered from dementia. The impetus for forming a relatives' group came from the obvious need such relatives had for discussion and support ; the City and East London district still had inadequate inpatient resources for demented patients, which has led to some patients being cared for at home longer than is desirable. Despite maximum support for the caring relative, one of us (JF) found such relatives would telephone the hospital from time to time saying they could no longer cope. They were always invited to the unit to discuss their problems, which they did, returning home with the problem unchanged but apparently satisfied and willing to carry on caring for their elderly relatives. Nevertheless, further opportunities to ventilate their feelings were needed; a group seemed to offer practical support, being economical of professional time while supplementing other supports and allowing sharing of the practical experience of coping with a demented relative.