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Special informal care

Experiences of informal carers of people with an intellectual disability or psychiatric disorder
Special informal care
Author(s) Y. Wittenberg (HvA), M.H. Kwekkeboom (HvA/SCP) and A.H. de Boer (SCP)
Publication date 17 January 2012
Keywords care recipients, informal carer support, social network
Price €
Number of pages
ISBN/ISSN/other 978 90 377 0566 9
Series Publication
Number 2012-4
Research group Care
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Original title: Bijzondere mantelzorg

The notion of informal care generally conjures up a picture of care provided to older persons by relatives and friends. However, people with psychiatric problems or intellectual disabilities also receive a great deal of care from those close to them. As yet, little is known about the experiences of those providing care to these groups. This report devotes attention to this ‘special’ informal care – special because the care relationship is not infrequently one that lasts a lifetime and in which care is needed and provided day and night. The informal carers providing this care were asked to recount their positive and negative experiences of providing care. They were also asked about their experiences with care professionals, and about their own need for support. 
This study was carried out in collaboration with the Community Care department of Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences (HvA), whose students helped carry out the fieldwork. The findings will also be used in the training of current and future workers in the care and service professions.