What happens during the transition from informal to formal homecare for a person living with dementia? An exploratory qualitative study.

The number of people living with dementia (PWD) in Scotland is increasing and is currently estimated at 90,684 people. In recent years, a shift from residential care to care in the home for PWD has created increased demand for informal (unpaid) and formal (paid) caregiving in the community, with the majority of care at home being attended to by informal caregivers. However, informal caregiving for PWD is well documented as stressful and poor levels of support can pose a risk to the health of. When informal caregivers receive insufficient support there is also a risk of early institutionalisation for PWD.

Transition is broadly defined as a period of change in a person's life. Evidence suggests that transitions increase stress and burden for informal caregivers of PWD.

The overarching aim of the proposed research is to understand the period of transition between informal and formal care at home in terms of facilitating and inhibiting factors, incorporating three research questions:
Question 1: "How can the experience of informal and formal caregivers, during the period of transition, be described?" The purpose of which is to describe the transition in terms of facilitating and inhibiting factors, and to explore perceptions of concepts such as identity, role, and transition itself.

Question 2: "Are there patterns between social factors - such as community networks, level of education, caregiving experience - and experience of the transition?" Which seeks to investigate the impact of context on experience.

Question 3: "Do perceptions of the transition change over time?" A longitudinal question that affords opportunity for reflection, and will generate insight into the potential longevity of the impact of the transition.

The proposed qualitative exploratory research will take place over 3 sequential phases: An exploratory phase whereby a scoping review will be completed, a descriptive cross-sectional phase and a reflective longitudinal phase.