Performance and Conformance: Creating Success in a Program for Caregivers (2006)

Undergraduate: Nicole Martin

Faculty Advisor: Daniel Gitterman
Department: Public Policy

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Public policy is never implemented exactly as intended. The hypothesis of the paper is that the gap between policy and implementation can serve as space for innovation and flexibility. This is especially important in respite care, which research has shown is more effective when paired with other caregiver interventions. One dementia-specific respite care program, Project CARE, is used for an implementation case study. Qualitative interviewing with administrators from the three program sites revealed that program characteristics such as operator and administrator discretion combined with environmental characteristics such as the availability of other caregiver resources to create a flexible and successful program for caregivers. The finding serves as support for policymakers who would eschew outcome measures in favor of more nuanced measures of success including adaptation to client needs and community building.