A study of the degree of burden and subjective sense of well being in care-givers involved in home care

Abstract

We investigated the degree of burden on care-givers and their subjective sense of well being, and studied the factors affecting them. Twenty people who were responsible for at least a year for constant care of elderly or bed-ridden patients under visitation care and nursing supervision of this hospital were registered. Regarding the care-givers, we investigated age, sex, duration of care, the relations between the care-givers and the cared-for, assistant care-givers, profession and hobbies, if any, of the care-givers, the depression scores; the social support, the degree of burden imposed by care, and the subjective sense of well being. As for the cared-for, we investigated their age, disease and degree of ADL. The burden felt by the care-giver became greater if the care-giver was a woman (p < 0.05), if the relationship with the cared or the health status of the care-giver was poor (p < 0.05, respectively), and if the scores for functional and emotional support networks were poor (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). As for the cared-for, the burden was greater if they were older (p < 0.05) and if it was difficult for them to leave bed (p < 0.05). The sense of subjective well being of the care-giver was greater if there was an assistant care-giver (p < 0.005); if the scores for the functional and the emotional support networks were higher (p < 0.05, respectively): and if understanding of information in terms of ADL was not adequate (p < 0.05). The present study suggested the importance of improving the emotional and functional support networks for the care-giver in helping them continue care by alleviating the burden and not suffering a loss in the subjective sense of well being.