Research has highlighted the importance of health and social care professionals' collaboration with family caregivers. In the field of mental healthcare, involvement of family members is perceived as beneficial to the recovery process of the care recipient. Furthermore, family care-giving is an essential part of elderly care. It is well documented that family members need support to prevent negative consequences of care-giving. Nevertheless, involvement of and support for family caregivers have not developed into a common practice, and research has identified professional barriers to collaboration with family caregivers in several areas. The aim of this study was to explore professionals' experiences of collaboration with family caregivers of older persons with mental health problems, and how they understood their responsibility towards families. We conducted three focus group interviews with 18 health and social care professionals working in community-based services, in three rural municipalities in Western Norway. The thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke guided the analysis. The findings in relation to the professionals' role and responsibility towards family caregivers are presented in three themes: family caregivers – a resource that needs support; a responsibility with unclear boundaries; and balancing different needs. Professionals recognised family caregivers' need for support and acknowledged the importance of family relationships. However, they experienced dilemmas in performing their dual responsibility of caring for the older care recipient as well as the family member, which they described as having unclear guidelines. They also experienced that they had insufficient knowledge to take on this responsibility. We argue that the exercising of discretion is essential for the professionals' responsibility, and that clarification of their responsibility is needed. We recommend a stronger focus in education on developing competence in the family perspective. Furthermore, the apportionment of professionals' responsibility needs to be formalised, especially when several services are involved in providing care.

中文翻译：

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专业人员对与挪威有精神健康问题的老年人的家庭照顾者合作中的责任的理解

研究强调了健康和社会护理专业人员与家庭护理人员合作的重要性。在精神保健领域，家庭成员的参与被认为有利于护理对象的康复过程。此外，家庭护理是老年人护理的重要组成部分。有据可查的是，家庭成员需要支持来防止护理带来的负面后果。然而，家庭照顾者的参与和支持尚未发展成为一种普遍的做法，研究已经确定了在几个领域与家庭照顾者合作的专业障碍。本研究的目的是探讨专业人员与有心理健康问题的老年人的家庭照顾者合作的经验，以及他们如何理解他们对家庭的责任。我们在挪威西部的三个农村城市对 18 名从事社区服务的卫生和社会保健专业人员进行了三个焦点小组访谈。布劳恩和克拉克的主题分析指导了分析。有关专业人员对家庭照顾者的角色和责任的调查结果分为三个主题： 家庭照顾者——需要支持的资源；界限不明确的责任；并平衡不同的需求。专业人士认识到家庭照顾者需要支持并承认家庭关系的重要性。然而，他们在履行照顾老年人和家人的双重责任时遇到了困境，他们将其描述为具有不明确的指导方针。他们也体验到他们没有足够的知识来承担这个责任。我们认为，行使自由裁量权对专业人员的责任至关重要，需要澄清他们的责任。我们建议在教育中更加注重从家庭角度发展能力。此外，需要正式分配专业人员的责任，特别是当提供护理涉及多项服务时。我们建议在教育中更加注重从家庭角度发展能力。此外，需要正式分配专业人员的责任，特别是当提供护理涉及多项服务时。我们建议在教育中更加注重从家庭角度发展能力。此外，需要正式分配专业人员的责任，特别是当提供护理涉及多项服务时。