Impact of memory clinics on carers of people living with dementia: An integrative review

People living with dementia and their carers require ongoing support in the community. Memory clinics can provide a range of supports including education, respite and symptom management. While these clinics improve consumer outcomes, their impact on the carers of people living with dementia is unclear. This review sought to identify and critically synthesise the literature on the effectiveness of memory clinics in supporting carers. An integrative review process was used to identify papers from CINAHL and Medline databases. Of the eight included papers, two were qualitative and six were quantitative studies. Three themes were identified, namely; psychological heath, carer burden and satisfaction with memory clinics. Four studies found decreases in caregiver burden, distress, and psychological symptoms such as anxiety and worry. Satisfaction with the clinic model was discussed as a source of support by carers, highlighting the memory clinics. The variable outcomes seen in this review require further research to elucidate the impacts of memory clinics on carers along the dementia trajectory.