Family Caregivers Of Elderly Research Articles

The impact of religious spiritual care training on the spiritual health and care burden of elderly family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a field trial study

BackgroundFamily caregiving is associated with many physical and psychological problems for caregivers, but the effect of spiritual support on reducing their issues during a crisis is also the subject of research. The study aims to examine the impact of religious spiritual care training on the spiritual health and care burdens of elderly family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe randomized controlled field trial involved 80 Iranian family caregivers in Bushehr City, who were selected by convenience sampling based on the inclusion criteria and divided into experimental (40 people) and control (40 people) groups by simple random sampling in 2021 and 2022. Data collection was conducted using spiritual health and care burden questionnaires using the Porsline software. The virtual intervention included spiritual and religious education. Four virtual sessions were held offline over two weeks. The first session was to get to know the participants and explain the purpose, The second session focused on the burden of care, the third on empowerment, and the fourth on mental health and related issues. In the control group, daily life continued as usual during the study.ResultsMean changes in existential health (3.40 ± 6.25) and total spiritual health (5.05 ± 11.12) increased in the intervention group and decreased in the control group. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups for existential health (t = 3.78, p = 0.001) and spiritual health (t = 3.13, p = 0.002). Cohen’s d-effect sizes for spiritual health and caregiving burden were 0.415 and 0.366, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in mean changes in religious health (p = 0.067) or caregiving burden (p = 0.638) between the two intervention and control groups.ConclusionGiven that the religious-spiritual intervention had a positive effect on existential health and no impact on religious health or care burden, it is recommended that comprehensive planning be undertaken to improve the spiritual health of family caregivers to enable them to better cope with critical situations such as a COVID-19 pandemic.Trial registrationIRCT code number IRCT20150529022466N16 and trial ID number 48,021. (Registration Date2020/06/28)

Caregiver resilience factors among young adult family caregivers of frail elders

ABSTRACT Young adult family caregivers (age 18–34) are increasingly providing care to their older family members with chronic, disabling, or other serious health conditions. Little is known on young adult family caregivers and their resilience in the context of family interaction and resources. Utilizing the 2015 National Study of Caregiving (NOSC) data, the aim of this study is to examine the correlation of caregiver strain, with the three elements of Family Resilience model: beliefs, family organizational patterns, and communication processes. The results of the study found that two parameters of NOSC in particular were associated with less caregiver strain: completed trainings and enjoying being with the care recipient. In addition, the parameter “feeling lonely,” defined as having a few friends was found significantly associated with higher caregiver strain. The results demonstrated the importance of understanding the unique resilience factors and tailored interventions for young adult family caregivers.

Health Related Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Dependent Elderly

Health Related Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Dependent Elderly

Hubungan Resiliensi Dengan Tingkat Kecemasan Pada Family Caregiver Lansia Dengan Komorbiditas Di Masa Pandemi COVID 19

Background: Resilience is a human ability to adapt in the face of sadness, and the constant and significant pressures in life. Resilience in the family during the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly experienced many changes due to significant changes. If the resilience process does not go well, the impact that will arise is that it can trigger anxiety. Objective: To determine the relationship between resilience and anxiety in elderly family caregivers with comorbidities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study used a correlational design with a cross-sectional approach to determine the correlation between two variables, the independent variable resilience and the dependent variable anxiety of elderly family caregivers with comorbidities. Data collection was carried out through direct observation using the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) instrument and a questionnaire. Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale (ZRAS). The sample in this study amounted to 85 respondents who were taken using a purposive sampling technique. The data analysis used was univariate and bivariate analysis using the chi-square test. Results: The data showed that 44 (51.8%) respondents had low levels of resilience and 44 (51.8%) respondents had moderate levels of anxiety. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between resilience and the anxiety level of elderly family caregivers with comorbidities with a p-value of 0.00 (p <0.05). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between resilience and the anxiety level of elderly family caregivers with comorbidities. It is hoped that the family caregiver can form a self-help group that is used as a support group Keywords: COVID-19, Family Caregiver, Anxiety, Resilience

Unknown Aspect of Compassion Fatigue in Family Caregivers of Elderly: A Phenomenological Study.

The study aims to evaluate caregiving emotional state of caregiver family members, their state of experiencing compassion fatigue, and their opinions about effect of compassion fatigue on care. The study was designed using a phenomenological pattern, and 10 volunteer family caregivers were included in the study group. Individual interview technique was used in data collection. Data was analyzed through content analysis with an inductive method and gathered under three themes: (1) opinions of caregivers about emotional status of caregiving to their patients, (2) symptoms of compassion fatigue, and (3) relationship of compassion fatigue and care process. In content analysis conducted on expressions of caregivers about their caregiving to their patients, 8 categories were created under Theme 1, 11 categories are established in the theme of symptoms of compassion fatigue, and 15 categories are created in the theme of relationship of compassion fatigue and care process. Caregivers used codes such as "to the best of my ability, sufficiently, as far as possible, remorse."

Elderly residents and family caregiver’s satisfaction with the services provided by geriatric homes in Beni-Suef city: A comparative study

Elderly residents and family caregiver’s satisfaction with the services provided by geriatric homes in Beni-Suef city: A comparative study

Influencing Factors on Care Burden in the Family Caregivers for Elders with Dementia: Focusing on Family Caregivers using a Regional Health Centers for Dementia

Purpose: This study was done to identify factors affecting care burden in the family caregivers of elders with dementia. Methods: The participants were 78 family caregivers who were taking care of the elders registered at three regional health centers for dementia located in K-province. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from January 2017 to October 2018 and analyzed with independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression in PASW 20.0. Results: The care burden of family caregivers was 51.0±17.9 (converted to 35.2/100), which was below moderate level, and the family caregivers’ emotional attitude toward dementia was significantly negatively correlated with care burden (r=-.55, p=.001). The influencing factors on care burden in the family caregivers for elders with dementia are the emotional attitude toward dementia (β=-.53, p=.009) appeared to be significant explanatory variable, and this model’s explanatory power was 31% (F=1.56 p=.017). In other words, the higher the emotional attitude score, the lower the care burden in the family caregivers of elders with dementia. Conclusion: We recommended that the dementia’s intervention program for family caregivers should include contents that can improve the emotional attitude toward dementia.

I lack 'me-time': The experiences of family caregivers of elders with Diabetes Mellitus in a selected village in South Africa.

Family caregiving is common in African countries where the family plays a crucial role in caring and supporting a family member in need of care. Most older people who suffer from chronic diseases, including Diabetes Mellitus, stay at home where family members and relatives are responsible for their day-to-day care. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of family caregivers of older people living with Diabetes Mellitus in a rural village in South Africa. This study was conducted in a village located in the Thulamela municipality of the Vhembe district, in the Limpopo province. A qualitative exploratory, descriptive research design was used. Purposive sampling was used, and data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide. Data saturation occurred after interviewing 17 participants and were analysed using thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was ensured through strategies of credibility, dependability, conformability, and transferability, and ethical principles were applied. Three themes emerged: participants sacrificed time for work, time for self-care, and devised coping strategies. These findings revealed that family caregivers of older adults diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus sacrificed their time in order to provide care. However, the findings further revealed that family caregivers devised strategies to cope through prayer and acceptance. The study revealed several challenges experienced by family caregivers of older people living with Diabetes Mellitus. The National Department of Health, together with the civil society would gain an in-depth understanding of the burden of Diabetes Mellitus in the family setting and develop strategies to improve the situation.

Caregivers' Technology Acceptance of an In-Home Care Management App: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Taiwan faces challenges in providing long-term family care as its population rapidly ages. This study aimed to construct a health application that could effectively meet family caregivers' needs in providing home care. Mixed methods were adopted to explore their acceptance of the application, as well as to gather their suggestions for improving the application. A nonrandomized controlled group pretest-posttest design was utilized. The participants were family caregivers who were recruited via purposive sampling at a regional hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. The caregivers used the application to monitor and manage the health of those they were caring for. Elderly family caregivers scored 1.57 and 1.16 points higher than their middle-aged counterparts in terms of performance expectancy (0.61-2.53, P = .01) and effort expectancy (0.25-2.06, P = .01), respectively. The caregivers opined that it was convenient to use the application for managing the health data of their patients, and resources and solutions for overcoming problems when using the application were easily within their reach. They also suggested that relevant information for promoting patient mental health could also be included in the application. Thus, the software is acceptable to all the family caregivers regardless of age, indicating that it can assist family caregivers in the future in performing home care management.

Design of Occupational Therapy Interventions for Middle-Aged and Elderly Family Caregivers.

This study aimed to develop an interactive app for occupational therapy interventions for middle-aged and elderly family caregivers by integrating life review and narrative therapy. The results indicated that the interventions improved the mood of individuals, but the improvement in the quality of life was less significant due to the multiple facets of life. The interface design of the interactive app had good operating characteristics and was above average in terms of learnability and usability. Overall, the intervention program positively improved participants’ psychological aspect, which was in line with the purpose of the life review. Thus, a focus group put forward specific suggestions on the contextual construction of life review, the intelligent development of guiding questions, scenario simulation, and the introduction of creative collaboration functions, which could be used as a reference for subsequent content adjustment and interface design.

METAMORFOSIS IN THE LIVES OF ELDERLY PEOPLE CARING FOR DEPENDENT ELDERLY IN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the phenomenon concerning the change in life and routine of elderly family caregivers who care for dependent elderly family members in Brazil. Method: qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, developed with 33 elderly family caregivers, from June to September 2019, in the cities of Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Araranguá, Manaus, Fortaleza and Teresina. Semi-structured interviews were conducted based on the theme of care, facilitating circumstances and difficulties. The analysis of the information was guided by the theoretical-methodological framework of hermeneutics-dialectics. Results: a comprehensive model of the experience of being an elderly caregiver of a dependent elderly family member. This process was part of two categories: "Assuming care" and "Unmet needs". The facilitating circumstances to assume care were positive emotions and bonds with the older person, acceptance of the disease, stable clinical status and support from health professionals, formal caregivers, domestic employees and family support. The difficulties were when the behavior of the dependent elderly becomes aggressive, experiencing loneliness, poor health, social isolation, financial restrictions and absence of social and health support. Conclusion: elderly caregivers are important agents in the exercise of care for the dependent elderly. When they have support, they can perform the care activities and have time to take care of themselves. However, for the most part, these people give up their lives, withdraw from the labor market, isolate themselves and suffer from the lack of material resources and support from health services.

"Invisible Voices": A Critical Incident Study of Family Caregivers' Experience of Nursing Homes After Their Elder Relative's Death.

The literature provides few examples of family caregivers' retrospective evaluation of nursing home services. This study aimed at analyzing narratives of Italian family caregivers of elders who experienced nursing home placement. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with family members after their relatives' death. The interviews were based on the Critical Incident Technique, which allowed the categorization of the most memorable positive and negative events from the perspective of family members of elders deceased in nursing homes. Interviews were interpreted with a phenomenologically inspired thematic analysis approach. Participants were screened for complicated grief disorder as a confounding variable in relatives' accounts of the treatment. Results suggested that positive long-term recollection of the nursing home was associated with different themes emerging from the interviews: medical reliability and expertise, active demonstrations of care that extend beyond the contract with the facility, individualized attention, responsiveness, openness to dialog with family members about routines, management of the first impression, and family engagement. Lack of professionals' expertise and medical failures, lack of care for patients' personal goods, lack of family involvement, lack of individualized attention, lack of responsiveness, poor patient surveillance, and structural limits of the facilities were the themes that were more frequently negatively associated with the nursing home experience. Focusing on the key dimensions connected to the quality of the experience of family members can enrich the quality of existing nursing home services and allow healthcare policymakers and managers to design better facilities for the patients.

Self-Directed Female Migration in Ghana: Health and Wellness of Elderly Family Caregivers Left Behind. An Ethnographic Study.

Driven by the global economic crisis, families are developing strategies for survival, including self-directed female migration. Female migration has negative and positive impacts on families in rural areas. The purpose of the project was to explore the health and wellness experiences of elderly family caregivers who have female family members who have migrated to improve the status of their families. In this focused ethnographic study, we interviewed elderly family members who had a female family member who migrated outside their community for employment. Participants were enrolled from northern Ghanaian communities known to be economically disadvantaged in comparison to their southern counterparts. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Data were analyzed based on thematic content. Majors themes that emerged were reasons for children leaving their families; physical, emotional, and spiritual health; and social and economic struggles. Challenges of family care work undertaken by the elderly in families with emigrated female kin strongly also emerged as a theme. New contextual knowledge was developed about the impact of self-directed female migration on the health and wellness of elderly family caregivers. The information is valuable for the development of culturally appropriate social support and health practices for female migrants and their families.

Financial strain among unpaid family caregivers of frail elders in community

ABSTRACT In the United States, 8 out of 10 elders, 65 or older, have at least one chronic disease. Their care likely falls mostly to family members; many experience financial strain associated with providing that care. Informal caregiving saves the American healthcare system money. The economic value of family caregivers is estimated at $350 billion, exceeding the total amount spent by either Medicare ($342 billion) or Medicaid ($300 billion) The COVID-19 pandemic makes this issue even more relevant. Many of those recovering from this virus, whatever their age and previous health history, find it is a very long process. This study examined correlates of financial strain among 956 unpaid family caregivers using the framework of the stress process model. Method: The study utilized the caregiver survey data set from the 1999 National Long-Term Care Survey. Results indicate that a caregiver’s perceived overload had the largest effect on greater financial strain. Variations and dynamics in caregiver financial strain are particular to the caregiver’s family relationship. Identifying correlates of caregiver financial strain can provide an important impetus for tackling the causes and providing effective interventions.

Sobrecarga do cuidador familiar de idoso da quarta idade

Objetivo: analisar evidências científicas disponíveis na literatura de saúde, em relação à sobrecarga de cuidadores familiares idosos na quarta idade. Método: estudo descritivo-discursivo de revisão integrativa realizada em janeiro e fevereiro de 2020, baseada em dados: Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina, Literatura América Latina e Caribe em Ciências da Saúde e Biblioteca on-line da Biblioteca Eletrônica Científica: Resultados: cuidadores são em sua maioria familiares, mulheres, filhas, moradores da mesma Instituição de Longa Permanência e responsáveis pelo cuidado diário, e com capacidades limitadas. Mostrasse que dentro dos fatores que afetam negativamente a qualidade de vida dos cuidadores, incluem o grau de dependência dos idosos e o estresse sobre o cuidador. Conclusão: O tema da qualidade de vida dos cuidadores familiares de idosos ainda é pouco explorado na literatura, especialmente no que diz respeito à quarta idade. Sugere-se que novos estudos sejam conduzidos com uma abordagem mais geral, independente da doença do idoso, uma vez que a necessidade de cuidadores é indispensável para idosos com deficiência física e/ou cognitiva, e quanto maior o número de tarefas no cuidado do idoso, maior será a sobrecarga do cuidador e, consequentemente, afetará sua qualidade de vida.

Experiences of family caregivers with day-care centers for elders in Southern China: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT With its massive older population, China faces challenges related to elderly support and care. One of the proposed solutions is to diversify elderly support systems. Towards this goal, the establishment of day-care centres is a new Chinese endeavour. This qualitative study was conducted among the family caregivers of elderly residents enrolled in day-care centres in Shenzhen, a Southern Chinese city, to explore and understand the experiences and factors that might affect family caregivers of frail elders enrolled in day-care centres. Twenty participants were recruited from these centres. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and were analysed via thematic analysis. The three major themes were: ‘I am a traditional person’: the impacts of ren and xiao, ‘caring made me tired’: mobility and environment barriers, and ‘I am not young’: relaxation feelings of family caregivers. The findings indicated that the day-care centres presented both challenges and opportunities to family caregivers, and the psychological and cultural services at these centres must be further enhanced.

“The world was shifting under our feet, so I turned to my devotionals as his dementia worsened”: the role of spirituality as a coping mechanism for family caregivers of Alaska Native elders with dementia

ABSTRACT Background: Providing direct care for an individual with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) is a source of chronic stress for caregivers. Spirituality and religion are important to Alaska Native (AN) identity and this study explored the role of spiritual practices as a coping mechanism for dementia caregivers. Purpose: The aim of the study was to (1) identify stressors experienced by AN people caring for someone with dementia and (2) describe the role of spirituality in coping with those stressors. Methods: This exploratory study conducted interviews with 21 AN caregivers of those with dementia. We employed thematic analysis to interview transcripts to examine relationships among the narratives and explore themes that populated the participants’ understandings of ADRD in each of the domains of Kleinman’s Explanatory Model of Illness. Results: AN caregivers reported chronic stress related to caregiving, and subthemes included poor health, lack of support, and lack of education on dementia. Caregivers reported using spiritual practices to cope with stress. Conclusion: The use of spiritual practices is identified as a primary resource during challenging caregiving experiences. Community organizations and health care providers should incorporate spiritual practices as part of the support they provide to AN dementia caregivers.

Social Factors of Health-Seeking Behavior: On Medical Treatment for Elders With Dementia in Oaxaca, Mexico

This article presents data on family caregiving for elders with dementia in Oaxaca, Mexico. Drawing on a year of ethnographic research, this article explores how caregivers engage in health-seeking behaviors and how they choose between biomedical and traditional medical alternatives. While caregivers are primarily concerned to maintain elders’ health, decisions about which medical providers to (not) consult invoke broader social factors that go beyond their relationships with elders, and concern socioeconomic realms of power, as well as broader ideals concerning local tradition and its maintenance in the contemporary world.

Thai family caregivers' experiences helping dependent elders during medical emergencies: a qualitative study

AimTo describe the experience of family caregivers of dependent elders during medical emergencies in rural settings in Thailand. MethodsThis was a descriptive qualitative research using in-depth interviews of 15 participants. Content analysis was applied to transcribed interviews, including data reduction as well as identification of key words, phrases, and themes. ResultsThe findings described the experience of caregivers of dependent older persons who faced emergency illness. Most of the family caregivers described their roles in unusual situations as practising assessment first and doing something that may relieve the symptoms experienced by the older persons before initiating and calling for help from relatives, neighbors, and, finally, the emergency medical services. The caregivers four main barriers to them feeling competent: (1) lack of home monitoring devices, (2) inexperienced caregivers in assessing warning signs to report during emergency care, (3) lack of information and understanding of patient rights in emergency health services, and (4) delayed arrival of emergency medical services. ConclusionsThere are barriers to the development of competency in caregiving skills, especially in assessing and recognizing warning signs and initiating first aid accurately before the arrival of the emergency health care team.

Relationship between Caring Burden and Caring Behavior among Family Caregivers of Elderly with Dementia in Community-Dwelling: Mediating Effects of Caring Self-Efficacy and Social Support

Relationship between Caring Burden and Caring Behavior among Family Caregivers of Elderly with Dementia in Community-Dwelling: Mediating Effects of Caring Self-Efficacy and Social Support