Factor 2: Caregiver needs.

Quantitative data gathered from the client questionnaires was entered into an Excel database for statistical analysis and used to generate descriptive tables and figures. Quality checks were undertaken to ensure the data was complete, free of distortions and ready for analysis. Data was then entered into our Excel database to generate descriptive statistics (**Table 1**).

Ten key factors supporting effective restorative home support services for people living with dementia and their caregivers were identified and these are factors are grouped under three primary headings: Clients and Caregivers, Community, and Organisational. The subsequent discussion section will detail how these factors are consistent with the research literature and

The majority of clients were aged between 75 and 94 years (36% aged 75–84 years and 36% aged 85–94 years), were female and identified as New Zealand European. The over representation of female clients is consistent with New Zealand females living longer than males. One third of clients had been diagnosed with dementia for over 3 years, almost half diagnosed for 1–3 years, and the remainder for 1 year or less. Just over half of clients had received home support care for 1 year or more. Dementia impacted 'moderately' on one-half of clients and

The majority of clients lived with family/caregivers, while a few clients with early onset dementia lived on their own with home support services being an essential component of their ability to remain living independently. All clients had received a NASC assessment that allowed them to access government-funded services from Enliven and linked to goals in an agreed care

The objective of Enliven home services is to support clients to remain living in their own home for as long as possible and with the greatest amount of dignity and independence that their circumstances allow, and this goal was highly valued by clients, caregivers, staff and key stakeholders alike. While all parties recognised that dementia was a progressive illness; there was a strong desire for clients to be supported to live at home, as long as the primary caregiver/family was able to cope with the situation and the client's safety was not compromised.

*Effective home support services for people living with dementia ensure that the needs of the client are upheld at all times, that clients are treated with respect, that client outcomes are integrated into realis-*

Enliven places clients and their caregivers/families at the centre of their service provision. The aim of Enliven restorative home support services is to achieve client outcomes that assist clients to remain living in their own home and to maintain physical, cognitive and social wellbeing. A majority of clients/caregivers identified four aspects of the Enliven service that were most

*tic service care-plan goals, and that caregivers/family are included in service planning.*

plan. The majority of clients received Enliven home support services on a daily basis.

**4. Research findings**

156 Cognitive Disorders

**4.1. Clients and caregivers**

Factor 1: Client outcomes.

'significantly' on one-third of clients.

fit within the national dementia care framework.

*Effective home support services for people living with dementia recognise that the primary caregiver(s) of a person living with dementia (often) require regular periods of respite if they are to sustain their role, and require consistent communication from support workers and other Enliven staff regarding their loved-one's experience/condition.*

Caregivers remarked that they strongly valued opportunities to have a period of time out from their loved one; as this provided them with an opportunity to undertake other necessary tasks, maintain relationships with family and friends, and to have some personal time. Similarly, key stakeholders and staff commented on the importance of the primary caregiver's role, commenting that many home support clients living with dementia were only able to remain living at home due to the commitment of their caregiver (along with the provision of various support services). An integrated dementia care service supporting people living with dementia to remain in their own homes needs to provide appropriate levels of support for clients and caregivers alike.

Caregivers also reported on the importance of being regularly updated by home support staff (and other Enliven staff as appropriate) about their loved-one's day/experience and any other issues that may arise during the provision of home support services. For example, caregivers expressed a strong desire to be informed on how their loved one responded during the support worker's visit and for support staff to also communicate this information with each other (for the client's benefit).
