Dementia sufferers living at home

Based on a subsample of 61 cases of dementia in an intensive interview study conducted in Liverpool, this article looks at the availability of family care, the characteristics of carers, the problems they face and the service support they receive. The findings confirm those of earlier studies: only two‐thirds of dementia sufferers living in the community have identifiable carers; the average age of carers was 65; dementia cases demonstrated a high level of dependency and need for supervision; and the level of input of domiciliary services was low. It was also found that a substantial proportion of sufferers live alone but most are not without supporters. GPs are identified as the key professionals who act as gatekeepers to other services. It is suggested that presently available services are inappropriate for some carers and that packages of care and support need to be flexible and better tailored to carers' needs.