Kinthee Sunner

Supporting Carers'. What Does This Mean to Them? Kinthee Sunner

Recognising an informal carers? voice in caring for a loved one with dementia is an overlooked area in the current literature and therefore the study provides some light to this concern. Semi-structure interviews were employed with Interpretative analysis was employed in order to explore the participants? experiences and views; therefore an appropriate methodology for the study. The results highlighted the following master themes in relation to understanding support: Burden in ?caring?, social/group therapy and emotional needs. The findings highlighted how the carers in the current study value support: that makes them feel capable, that being part of a shared support group is uplifting and an issue overlooked was how needed emotional support was; yet lacking. Therefore the implications would suggest further research is needed into providing emotional support provisions.