scholarly journals Caregiver Needs: Navigating Services, Technology, and Information

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 682-682
Author(s):  
C Grace Whiting

Abstract Data suggests that caregivers may be taking on this role without adequate and affordable services and supports in place. Few caregivers report access to paid help and find it difficult to navigate a healthcare system that is complex and that changes continuously. Caregivers find it challenging to coordinate their recipients’ care across various providers, and the lack of affordable services make it difficult to be a caregiver today. While many caregivers rely on health care professionals (such as doctors, nurses, or social workers) as a source of information about providing care, few caregivers report having conversations with them about what they need to care for their recipient or to support their well-being. In this section, the presenter will discuss the needs of caregivers (respite, transportation, information, and training), focusing on policy and programmatic solutions geared to improving the well-being of caregivers and those under their care.

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Law

Objectives: To increase public and professional understanding of caregiving experiences of people who care for adults with chronic physical illness; to promote the use of caregivers’ lived experiences in the education of healthcare professionals.Methods: Part 1: 40 qualitative audio/video recorded interviews were conducted with adult caregivers in a maximum variation sample from across Canada. Data collection and analysis is via rigorous qualitative research. 25 topics or themes are identified reflective of the participants’ concerns, meanings and priorities.Results including video, audio or text clips, and evidence-informed resources are published on www.healthexperiences.ca. The methods are adopted from the award-winning website (www.healthtalkonline.org) from Oxford University, UK.Part 2: collaboration with healthcare professionals, educational experts, researchers and caregivers to design educational modules to be piloted in University setting for healthcare professional education.Results: Caregivers described their experiences with the healthcare system as part of their role. They provide advice to health care professionals about issues such as access to information and services, attitude and behaviours, the impact of caregiving on their own well-being , and reflections on their role. Participants emphasize the importance of recognition for their role as part of the care team for patients with chronic physical illnesses. Some described the need for the healthcare system to consider caregivers as an important component in the ‘a circle of care’ around the patient. If caregivers suffer physical or mental illness, burn-out or lack of resources, the support system for the patient falls away. Educational modules featuring video and audio clips of caregivers’ stories are powerful educational tools in developing healthcare professional sensitivity to these issues in patient care.Conclusion: The www.healthexperiences.ca / www.experiencessante.ca sites are unique in Canada in the field of patient experiences and healthcare communication. It is a great resource to educate health care professionals about the caregivers’ perspective on caring for adults with chronic physical illness.


Author(s):  
Kelly R. Arora

Interspiritual conversations are becoming more common in health care settings as providers recognize that patients’ diverse spiritual/religious values, beliefs, and practices may influence their health care decision-making and general well-being. This essay explores the practical dimensions of teaching health care professionals how to use an interspiritual dialogue approach grounded in values and particularism through a course entitled “Faith, Spirituality and Culture in Health Care,” which was designed for and taught to doctoral students at a Denver, Colorado, School of Pharmacy. After considering the contemporary context for teaching interspiritual dialogue to healthcare professionals, the essay reflects upon and relates the pedagogical choices made in designing and teaching the course, as well as the course structure, outline, objectives, and schedule.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232098783
Author(s):  
Stacey Power ◽  
Keelin O’Donoghue ◽  
Sarah Meaney

Ireland has had a reliance on voluntary groups to provide peer-to-peer bereavement support. The aim of this study was to explore volunteers’, within these voluntary groups, experiences of supporting parents following a fatal fetal anomaly diagnosis. Purposive sampling was used to recruit volunteers ( n = 17) and face-to-face interviews undertaken. NVivo12 was utilized to assist in the thematic analysis of the data. Five themes; “motivation for altruistic acts,” “being challenged,” “value of education and training,” “supporting volunteers to support others,” and “it is not a sprint, it is a marathon” were identified. Volunteers felt comfortable in their peer-support role but found the lack of knowledge regarding newly implemented termination of pregnancy (TOP) services challenging. The importance of education/training was identified, emphasizing the need for collaboration with health care professionals and other voluntary organizations for support. The findings illustrate the need for collaborative working between health care professionals and volunteers to assist them in supporting bereaved parents.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Fleischman ◽  
Kathleen Nolan ◽  
Nancy N. Dubler ◽  
Michael F. Epstein ◽  
Mary Ann Gerben ◽  
...  

Background. Much has been written about the care of the hopelessly ill adult, but there is little guidance for pediatric health care professionals in the management of children who are critically or terminally ill. Methods. Through a 3-day meeting in Tarrytown, NY, attended by a group of pediatricians and others directly involved in these issues, a principled approach was developed for the treatment of, and health care decision-making for, children who are gravely ill. Results. The group agreed that the needs and interests of the child must be the central focus of any treatment plan and that the child should be involved to as great extent possible, consistent with developmental maturity, in the decision-making process. Quality of future life should be viewed as being relevant in all decisions. Parents are believed to be the natural guardians of children and ought to have great latitude in making decisions for them. However, parental discretion is not absolute and professionals must maintain an independent obligation to protect the child's interests. Conclusions. Decision-making should be collaborative among patient, parents, and professionals. When conflict arises, consultation and ethics committees may assist in resolution. When cure or restoration of function is no longer possible, or reasonable, promotion of comfort becomes the primary goal of management. Optimal use of pain medication and compassionate concern for the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of the child and family should be the primary focus of the professionals caring for the dying child.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-171
Author(s):  
Rachel Fisher ◽  
Jasneet Parmar ◽  
Wendy Duggleby ◽  
Peter George J. Tian ◽  
Wonita Janzen ◽  
...  

Introduction Family caregivers (FCGs) play an integral, yet often invisible, role in the Canadian health-care system. As the population ages, their presence will become even more essential as they help balance demands on the system and enable community dwelling seniors to remain so for as long as possible. To preserve their own well-being and capacity to provide ongoing care, FCGs require support to the meet the challenges of their daily caregiving responsibilities. Supporting FCGs results in better care provision to community-dwelling seniors receiving health-care services, as well as enhancing the quality of life for FCGs. Although FCGs rely upon health-care professionals (HCPs) to provide them with support and services, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the type of health workforce training (HWFT) that HCPs should receive to address FCG needs. Programs that train HCPs to engage with, empower, and support FCGs are required. Objective To describe and discuss key findings of a caregiver symposium focused on determining components of HWFT that might better enable HCPs to support FCGs. Methods A one-day symposium was held on February 22, 2018 in Edmonton, Alberta, to gather the perspectives of FCGs, HCPs, and stakeholders. Attendees participated in a series of working groups to discuss barriers, facilitators, and recommendations related to HWFT. Proceedings and working group discussions were transcribed, and a qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. Results Participants identified the following topic areas as being essential to training HCPs in the provision of support for FCGs: understanding the FCG role, communicating with FCGs, partnering with FCGs, fostering FCG resilience, navigating healthcare systems and accessing resources, and enhancing the culture and context of care. Conclusions FCGs require more support than is currently being provided by HCPs. Training programs need to specifically address topics identified by participants. These findings will be used to develop HWFT for HCPs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Osman ◽  
Shaista Hamid ◽  
Veena S. Singaram

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.Setting: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.Methods: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.Contribution: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola T A Hopkins ◽  
John A White ◽  
Lesley Rushton ◽  
Jackie Gordon

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Terpstra ◽  
Catherine Worthington ◽  
Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco ◽  
Kelly K. O’Brien ◽  
Aiko Yamamoto ◽  
...  

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is common, but the lived experience of HAND is not well-understood. In this descriptive qualitative study, we explored how adults with HAND view, manage, and obtain support for cognitive difficulties. We interviewed 25 participants (20% female; median age = 51 years) who were diagnosed with HAND using neuropsychological assessment and a clinical interview. Semistructured interviews, co-developed with community members living with HIV, focused on how cognitive difficulties manifested and progressed, impacted well-being, and were discussed with others. We analyzed interview transcripts using a team-based, thematic approach. Participants described concentration, memory, and multitasking difficulties that fluctuated over time, as well as potential risk factors, management strategies, and psychosocial consequences. They reported they seldom discussed cognitive impairment with health care professionals, and that receiving a HAND diagnosis was validating, informative, yet somewhat disconcerting. Conversations between health care professionals and people living with HIV about HAND may provide opportunities for education, assessment, and support.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 110 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 210-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary T. Story ◽  
Dianne R. Neumark-Stzainer ◽  
Nancy E. Sherwood ◽  
Katrina Holt ◽  
Denise Sofka ◽  
...  

Objective. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate among health care professionals their attitudes, perceived barriers, perceived skill level, and training needs in the management of child and adolescent obesity. Methods. A national needs assessment consisting of a mailed questionnaire was conducted among a random sample of health care professionals. The survey was completed by 202 pediatricians, 293 pediatric nurse practitioners, and 444 registered dietitians. Results. The majority of all respondents felt that childhood obesity was a condition that needs treatment (75%–93%), and affects chronic disease risk (76%–89%) and future quality of life (83%–93%). The most frequent barriers were lack of parent involvement, lack of patient motivation, and lack of support services. Registered dietitians were less likely to identify barriers to treatment compared with pediatricians or pediatric nurse practitioners. The most common areas of self-perceived low proficiency were in the use of behavioral management strategies, guidance in parenting techniques, and addressing family conflicts. All 3 groups expressed high interest in additional training on obesity management of children and adolescents, especially in the area of behavioral management strategies and parenting techniques. Those practitioners with >10 years of practice reported the greatest interest in training. Conclusions. Pediatric practitioners view child and adolescent obesity with concern and feel that intervention is important. However, several important barriers interfere with treatment efforts and will need to be addressed. There is also a need for increased training opportunities related to obesity prevention and treatment. The results of this study provide directions and priorities for training, education, and advocacy efforts.


Author(s):  
Stephen J. Swensen ◽  
Tait D. Shanafelt

Optimizing the organizational environment to promote esprit de corps can’t happen without senior leadership prioritizing the issues and dedicating time, attention, and other resources to address them. For meaningful and sustainable results, the commitment by leadership must be authentic. In other words, leaders must embrace this quest because they genuinely care, not just because they believe it is a good business strategy. There are four triggers for senior leaders to become committed to the well-being of the health care professionals in their organization: the moral/ethical case, the business case, the regulatory case, or the tragic case.


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