Caregivers' perceptions of case management and community-based services: barriers to service use.

This study explored the use of case-managed services for dementia patients and their families. Forty-six primary caregivers, recruited from five case-managed programs and from independent sources, participated in a structured interview. The findings suggest ways in which case-managed services might be structured more effectively for caregivers to dementia patients. Specifically, families seek greater flexibility and increased family input into the service package. Further, caregivers emphasize the need for more information about service eligibility and availability, and the importance of finding a sympathetic person within the system.