The public respite care service for older people in Malta : an evaluation

Abstract

As the global population ages, the necessity for caregiving inexorably amplifies. Respite care was developed to help caregivers deal with the demands brought about by their role and it may be provided in a variety of forms. This study aimed to carry out an evaluation of the publicly-funded residential respite care service for older people in Malta. This study adopted an interpretative stance and a qualitative approach was used. Data were collected through (i) participant observations at the three publicly-funded residential respite care sites for older persons in Malta, (ii) interviews with twelve caregivers who made use of residential respite for their care recipients at the aforementioned sites, and (iii) elite interviews with three service providers responsible for overseeing residential respite care services in the three different sites respectively. Data were thematically analysed. The findings revealed divergent views and a discrepancy in the type of service provided at the three sites. The three main emerging themes were: the push factor to residential respite, the residential respite experience and reconsidering respite: a commodity or a necessity? Each theme was subdivided into further sub-themes. Most of the caregivers who sought the service were taking care of older persons who required high levels of assistance. For caregivers, residential respite meant primarily a temporary pause from their duties. However, they reported feelings of ambivalence when deciding at which time point to make use of the service. Care recipients viewed residential respite mainly as a time for compromising. Some felt that they were losing their identity and their scope in life was dwindling away. Feelings of apprehension and fear were also reported. Nevertheless, others underlined positive experiences and found their stay relatively satisfactory. Service providers acknowledged the importance of communication with all stakeholders to enhance service provision. The findings provide a sound platform to continue consolidating and ensuring an effective, timely and accessible publicly-funded residential respite care service as it is one of the links that solidifies and complements the chain of community care support services. Thereby, every effort should be made to provide the best possible service to ensure integration, collaboration and continuity of care in order to sustain caregivers with their role in caring for older persons in need of assistance.