Raymond Smith

The impact of volunteer mentoring schemes on carers of people with dementia and volunteer mentors: a systematic review.

This systematic review aims to examine the differences and similarities between the various types of volunteer mentoring (befriending, mentoring and peer support) and to identify the benefits for carers and volunteers. Literature searching was performed using 8 electronic databases, gray literature, and reference list searching of relevant systematic reviews. Searches were carried out in January 2013. Four studies fitted the inclusion criteria, with 3 investigating peer support and 1 befriending for carers. Quantitative findings highlighted a weak but statistically significant (P =.04) reduction in depression after 6 months of befriending. Qualitative findings highlighted the value carers placed on the volunteer mentors’ experiential similarity. Matching was not essential for the development of successful volunteer mentoring relationships. In conclusion, the lack of need for matching and the importance of experiential similarity deserve further investigation. However, this review highlights a lack of demonstrated efficacy of volunteer mentoring for carers of people with dementia.

Dementia cafés: recommendations from interviews with informal carers

Purpose Dementia cafes (also known as Alzheimer’s or memory cafes) have been running in the UK since 2000. The purpose of this paper is to report on the recommendations from recent research that interviewed family carers on their experiences of using the cafes. Design/methodology/approach The research was carried out in cafes in and around London, and focussed on informal, unpaid carers’ experiences of using them. In total, 11 carers from five different dementia cafes were interviewed, using semi-structured questionnaires. The results were thematically analysed. Findings The findings showed that carers had an overwhelming appreciation of the cafes and what they offered, but several of the findings led to the recommendations about the recruitment and training of cafe co-ordinators; how cafes present themselves and their services and how they can offer dedicated support to informal carers. Originality/value These recommendations will be of use to cafe organisers and commissioners, especially considering the dearth of information currently available in this area.

Active residents in care homes: A holistic approach to promoting and encouraging meaningful activity for residents living in care homes (innovative practice)

The active residents in care homes intervention aim to promote meaningful activity among care home residents. Residents, family members and staff from three residential care homes in South London are participating. It is a whole systems approach which involves formal and ‘on the floor’ training to empower care home staff to facilitate activity. Training is delivered by two occupational therapists, a physiotherapist and a rehabilitation assistant. This paper describes the active residents in care homes intervention, the evaluation methods and discusses some preliminary findings.