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Table 4 The preventer

From: Mental health nurses’ support to caregivers of older adults with severe mental illness: a qualitative study

Aspects

Illustrative quotesa

View of support

It is very important to involve the family. Because you know it is not possible without the partner and the system. For the family it is very important that they are heard and seen and work together

Int 42

Interpretation of role and responsibilities

And the caregiver, she was really burdened as far as I could see. There was considerable interaction between them. They told me that the general practitioner asked them why they didn’t get a divorce. Well, that also crossed my mind but I am not in a position to say such things. But they choose to be together and that made things awful. I asked my superior for advice, because I had never had any training on this topic nor did I have any experience in conversations about caregiver-client relationships. I tried to offer them some space by organising respite care but I couldn’t get any further. My superior formulated it as the caregiver’s choice. She said; ‘you gave them advice and if they do not learn from it, it is their choice and there is nothing you can do about it’. So in the end I gave up, I could not help them but I felt bad

Int 44

MHN-caregiver relationship

I assume that when there is confidence and mutual trust, then they will more frequently ask questions for their own reassurance. This also influences the client

Int 49

Defining caregiver needs

Everyone has a family. So to some extent you have to know things about family ties. You need to know what activity you can expect from family and what information you can give them

Int 48

Interventions

They do not communicate but argue. I arrange the medication so they do not have to argue about this

Int 43

I explain things about the illness so they understand

  1. aIllustrative quotes have been slightly edited to improve readability