Developing a medication management resource for ethnic minority informal caregivers of people living with dementia

Authors

Robyn Gillespie, University of WollongongFollow
Judy Mullan, University of WollongongFollow
Lindsey Harrison, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

86060

Publication Details

Gillespie, R., Mullan, J. & Harrison, L. (2013). Developing a medication management resource for ethnic minority informal caregivers of people living with dementia. Enabling Active Ageing Conference Proceedings: The 12th National Conference of Emerging Researchers in Ageing (pp. 83-87). Australia: Emerging Researchers in Ageing Australia.

Abstract

This paper outlines the motivation for and the development of a medication management information resource for Australian ethnic minority informal caregivers of people living with dementia. The aim of this project is to enable ethnic minority informal caregivers to safely and effectively manage medications for their care recipient living with dementia in the community setting. A large number of Australian informal caregivers of people living with dementia are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Medication management is a common, but often times complex, daily task undertaken by many informal caregivers. Since many of the caregiver's medication management responsibilities increase as the cognitive capabilities of their care recipients' decline with advancing dementia and no comprehensive dementia specific medication management information resource currently exists we felt it important to develop a useful, accessible information resource for informal caregivers in this role. The development of this medication management information resource occurred in two stages; the first stage involved a qualitative study to gain insight into the perspectives and the information needs of these ethnic minority informal caregivers as they manage medications for their care recipient. The results and main themes identified in this first stage were then used to inform the second stage of the study which involved the development of the medication management information resource, to be available online in both English and Italian. These are nearing completion and will be evaluated before becoming generally available online. It is anticipated that this information resource will provide family caregivers of people with dementia information and support in this role.