Abstract
Purpose The family caregivers play an important role in the good quality of life for the elderly, but most of them can easily have an emotional and psychological effect on caregiving. The purpose of this paper is to explore the correlation between conditions of caring for the elderly in the family and caregiver stress in a community setting, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional exploratory descriptive research was conducted in Ban Klang Subdistrict, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province. Simple random sampling was used to collect data by using a structured interview via a questionnaire with 103 elderly caregivers. The χ2 test was used to explain the conditions related to stress as being a caregiver. Findings Most of the caregivers were female and still in good health, but at the same time, underwent little stress. However, they did not receive any training beforehand for taking care of the elderly but mainly done by experience, relationship and gratitude. The conditions correlated with stress as being a caregiver were health status of caregivers, confidence of care, the relationship between caregiver and elderly person, and economic burden of care. Originality/value A necessary resource such as body of knowledge in elderly caregiving, long-term care system at the community level and social support from family and intimate persons will encourage confidence in taking care of the elderly in the family and also relieve caregivers’ stress.
Highlights
In 2015, Thailand was considered to be an aged society, ranking second after Singapore among the ASEAN member countries due to the dramatic change of population structure in Thailand during 3–4 decades, and six years from 2015, Thailand will be a complete aged society[1, 2]
Since Thai society upholds values of gratefulness, and considers care and assistance provided for the elderly in their daily lives to be the duty of their children in the family[6] by having their descendants, spouse and relatives take primary responsibility in caring for the elderly[7], so increasing capacity in various aspects for family members caring for the elderly is needed, especially the importance should be placed on the elderly caregivers[8]
This study aims to examine the correlation between conditions of caring for the elderly and stress of the family caregivers for the sake of fostering collaboration among family members, community and agencies involved to support these family members as caregivers to care for the elderly in the family happily by means of giving any support needed for long-term caregiving for the elderly
Summary
In 2015, Thailand was considered to be an aged society, ranking second after Singapore among the ASEAN member countries due to the dramatic change of population structure in Thailand during 3–4 decades, and six years from 2015, Thailand will be a complete aged society[1, 2]. The caregivers have a duty to help and support the elderly to enjoy their daily lives, but on the other hand, most of them are likely to be physically and mentally affected, causing the more negative outcome to their quality of life than to other family members[9, 10] Because these caregivers can have emotional and psychological stress, the feelings of worry, confusion and boredom with caregiving as well as the lack of accurate knowledge of guidelines to caring for the elderly[11] may cause them to lack confidence and worry about caregiving, especially those who have to care for the elderly with depression, dementia and Alzheimer symptoms which require continuous and palliative care
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