Use of social resources in people with dementia. Descriptive study.

Abstract

Background and objective: The chronic and degenerative nature of dementia means that both the patient and his family requiere a range of care services to meet the originated needs. These needs are not always covered, highlighting a lack of information on existing social resources. The aim of the study was to compare the use of social resources by people with dementia and their families after an intervention from the area of Social Work.

Materials and methods: Socio-demographic and clinical records were collected from people living with dementia users of the * anonimizado * Day Care Centre and their families, as well as information about the use of resources both at admission and discharge, after receiving a counseling program from Social Work.

Results: After the intervention of Social Work, there is an increase in the number of users who have a recognized dependency situation, obtain recognition of disability degree and use other resources offered in the community. On the other hand, hardly any changes were achieved in the declaration of legal incapacitation.

Conclusions: It is necessary to promote interventions from Social Work services for family members of people with dementia that facilitate access to adequate information and proper referral to available social resources, since the use of these resources is useful to reduce the negative effects of the disease.