‘They don't quite fit the way we organise our services’—results from a UK field study of marginalised groups and dementia care

Abstract

The accessibility of dementia services to two groups of marginalised service users (people under 65 years of age and people from minority ethnic groups) was examined as part of a UK field study. In 61 interviews with a purposeful sample of professionals and paid carers in dementia care, the main issue in service access related to the small numbers of potential service users and their geographical dispersal. Other issues reflected those faced by people with dementia in general. At present, it seems as though decisions on care are based mainly on financial considerations and perceptions of the risk and dangerousness posed by people with dementia. These findings are linked to broader debates within the social model of disability about the need to address issues relating to people with learning impairments.

Acknowledgements

The fieldwork from which this article draws was funded by a Community Fund grant to Dementia Voice, grant no. URN RB217777. We would like to thank all of those who agreed to be interviewed. We would also like to thank Leigh Taylor, Sandy Green and others who transcribed interviews.

Notes

* Corresponding author. Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, Bristol, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK.

Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robin Means *

* Corresponding author. Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, Bristol, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK. Email: [email protected]