Family carers of people living with dementia have access to free support services, such as carer psychosocial support meetings and training about dementia through all the four Alzheimer’s Associations affiliated to the Brazilian Federation of Alzheimer’s Associations (FEBRAZ). Such meetings also provide information and advice on legal rights. However, services tend to be provided mostly in urbanized and high-income areas (located mostly in the Southern and South-Eastern regions), meaning that people from poorer and rural areas often have limited access to support. All associations affiliated to FEBRAZ have some partnerships established with a number of other institutions, such as private hospitals (e.g., Hospital Nove de Julho in Sao Paulo), Secretariats of Health, Lions Clubs, Military Police, among others, that might provide support for carers. There is no availability of respite services or financial benefits/social (security) protection for carers in Brazil. In some cases, people living with dementia may receive disability allowance through court orders.

There is currently no government provided support specifically available to family/unpaid carers in Jamaica.

Family caregivers in Kenya experience financial instability due to costs of treatment and daily living expenses. In addition, they struggle due to limited access to information and evidence-based care. Carers have been found to experience burn out and stigma linked to misconceptions about the illness (Johnston, 2017). Unfortunately, they do not receive any monetary compensation from the government or other forms of formal support from health or social services (Chepngeno-Langat, 2014). ADOK, however, offers training and monthly support group meetings for caregivers of persons with dementia. There they can share their experiences around the provision of care while giving each other support.

References:

Chepngeno-Langat, G. (2014). Entry and re-entry into informal care-giving over a 3-year prospective study among older people in Nairobi slums, Kenya. Health & Social Care in the Community, 22(5), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12114

Johnston, H. (2017). Caring for caregivers: challenges facing informal palliative caregivers in Western Kenya. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection, 2684.  https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3707&context=isp_collection

No support (monetary, in-kind, services, etc.) is available for family/unpaid carers.

Available supports and eligibility criteria for access are detailed by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (2019) and the Ministry of Social Development (n.d.).

References:

Ministry of Social Development. (n.d.). A guide for carers. Ministry of Social Development website. Available from: https://www.msd.govt.nz/what-we-can-do/community/carers/guide-for-carers/index.html.

Welfare Expert Advisory Group. (2019). Current state: Carers of people with health conditions or disabilities. Wellington: Welfare Expert Advisory Group. Available from: http://www.weag.govt.nz/assets/documents/WEAG-report/background-documents/9513d6b9b0/Carers-of-HCD-010419.pdf.