Increasing Family Members' Appreciation of Family Caregiving Stress

Family members play an important role in caregiving with more emphasis on early intervention for people suffering from mental illness. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study examines the effects of a community mental health intervention project (CoMHIP) on burdens of caregivers who have family members with suspected mental illness. Results showed that family caregivers’ burden and psychological stress level had been reduced ( p < .001). The caregivers subjectively experienced a significant reduction in stress regarding the caregiving subscales, supervision, tension, worrying and urging after seeking CoMHIP service. Findings for the study have implications on social work interventions regarding family caregiving of people with suspected mental health problems.

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Nursing Research in Parkinson’s Disease From 2006 to 2015

Clinical Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/1054773816634912 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 142-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ju Young Shin ◽

Barbara Habermann

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Symptom Management ◽

Family Members ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Self Management ◽

Nursing Research

Most people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) reside in their homes with their family members. Nurses are in a good position to partner with people with PD and their family members for better self-management of the disease and improved quality of life. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the state of the science of nursing research related to PD during the 10-year period, 2006 to 2015. A total of 27 studies were included in this review. Family caregiving was the most studied topic, followed by symptom management/medication adherence, quality of life, end-of-life/palliative care, and functional status/improving function. Recommendations for future studies in PD include (a) developing and testing interventions based on theoretical models in the areas of self-management, symptom management, and function improvement in people with PD and for caregivers caring for people with advanced stage PD, and (b) building programs of research with interprofessional teams.

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Decision-making-focused education as a mediator of family caregiving stress

Neurobiology of Aging ◽

10.1016/s0197-4580(00)83164-4 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

pp. 269 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Suzanne M. Narayan ◽

Kenneth W. Hepburn ◽

Marsha L. Lewis ◽

Sheila A. Corcoran-Perry

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Caregiving Stress

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Family caregivers and caregiving in dementia

Reviews in Clinical Gerontology ◽

10.1017/s0959259806001900 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 15 (3-4) ◽

pp. 263-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

LKP Yap ◽

CCD Seow ◽

LM Henderson ◽

YNJ Goh

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Family Members ◽

Economic Strain ◽

Family Carers ◽

Standard Definition ◽

Early Stages ◽

Definition Of

The alarming statistics of dementia are now widely acknowledged. The most recent estimates indicate 24.3 million suffer from this condition worldwide, with a new case being diagnosed every seven seconds. For the person afflicted, it robs him of his identity and, in the opinion of many, even his personhood. For family members, bereavement can begin from the early stages of the disease where a once-treasured relationship is gradually eroded. Family carers remain the main persons providing care, having to face much emotional, practical and economic strain in the process. Although there is no standard definition of family caregiving, it is understood to involve providing extraordinary care, often outside the bounds of what is usual in family relationships. Caregiving typically stretches over a prolonged period and entails significant expenditure of time, energy, finances, and tasks that may be unpleasant, emotionally stressful and physically exhausting.

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Aging immigrant family caregivers health, social engagement, and health literacy

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2926 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 800-800

Author(s):

Mary Dioise Ramos

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Family Members ◽

Cardiovascular Disorder ◽

Immigrant Family ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Falling Asleep

Abstract Family caregiving is evolving in multiple ways. There is an increasing recognition of the role of informal or unpaid family caregivers. Extensive body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. However, most evidence on family caregiving gear towards Caucasian middle-class populations. There is limited research that exists about aging immigrant family caregivers who are ill-prepared for their role and provide care with little or no support. The specific aim of this study was to assess and determine the association of health status, social engagement, and health literacy among aging immigrant family caregivers. This study utilized a non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design. Most of the participants are female married Asian women, who are retired, living with their spouses, and taking care of their family members more than 4 hours a day with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cardiovascular disorder. Most participants have existing medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Most participants experienced problem with sleep and difficulty falling asleep. While some participants experienced fatigue and having trouble doing regular leisure activities with others. There is an association between sleep disturbance and ability to participate in social roles and activities among aging immigrant family caregivers. Inclusion of people from different ethnicities, backgrounds, and socioeconomic position in caregiver research is vitally important. There is a need for a greater understanding of the contextual factors of family caregiving and recognizing the prevalence and characteristics of aging immigrant family caregivers.

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Palliative Care at Home: Reflections on HIV/AIDS Family Caregiving Experiences

Journal of Palliative Care ◽

10.1177/082585979801400203 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 14-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Kelli I. Stajduhar ◽

Betty Davies

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Qualitative Methods ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Family Members ◽

Loved One ◽

The Family ◽

Care At Home ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Hiv Aids ◽

At Home

This study explored the day-to-day experiences of family members providing care at home for their dying loved one with HIV/AIDS. In-depth interviews with seven caregivers were analyzed using grounded theory qualitative methods. A conceptualization of the family caregiving experience portrays HIV/AIDS caregiving as an intense, emotional, and powerful experience filled with pride and enrichment, and conversely, with anger and disillusionment. Findings reflected a significant need for interventions designed to provide direct and effective support for family members caring for a loved one with HIV/AIDS.

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The Impact of Educational Training for Supporting Chinese American Family Caregivers

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1445 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 447-447

Author(s):

Man Wai Lun

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Self Care ◽

Chinese American ◽

American Family ◽

Educational Training ◽

Caregiving Stress ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Impact ◽

Over Time

Abstract A pilot self-care educational training, focusing on common caregiving stress, self-care, conflicts, and communication within families for supporting caregiving for family members of old age, was offered to the Chinese American community. After the series of training, 16 participants were asked to evaluate their knowledge of family caregiving as well as the training. Results of the preliminary study revealed that most participants found the training informative but were not sure if they would continue to apply over time. Overall participants reported to be satisfied with the training and receptive to additional training in the future. Results encourage further implementing the training, and investigation of the longitudinal effect of the training to help with family caregiving issues.

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Psychometric Evaluation of the Shared Care Instrument in a Sample of Home Health Care Family Dyads

Journal of Nursing Measurement ◽

10.1891/jnum.13.3.175 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 175-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Margaret D. Sebern

Keyword(s):

Home Health Care ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Family Members ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Shared Care ◽

Naturalistic Inquiry ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Care Family ◽

Survey Questionnaires

Researchers have studied negative effects of caregiving on a family caregiver; however, less is known about positive aspects of exchanging assistance for both members of a family caregiving dyad. In a previous naturalistic inquiry the author indentified a basis for studying caregiving interactions was a construct called shared care. The three components of shared care identified in the naturalistic inquiry were communication, decision making, and reciprocity. The Shared Care Instrument (SCI) was developed to measure the construct. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the SCI, and to assess its construct and criterion-related validity. A sample of home care family dyads (110 patients and 109 family members) returned usable survey questionnaires. Results indicated the Cronbach’s alphas for the patient group for the SCI subscales ranged from .78 to .84, and .77 to .79 for family members. Factor analysis supported the underlying theoretical basis and factor structure of the SCI. Criterion-related validity was also supported. Therefore, the results of this study provide initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the SCI for use with family caregiving dyads. The findings support the need for additional testing of the SCI.

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Family Caregiving and Depression among Older Adults in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2955 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 809-810

Author(s):

Taiji Noguchi ◽

Takahiro Hayashi ◽

Yuta Kubo ◽

Naoki Tomiyama ◽

Akira Ochi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Caregiver Burden ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Family Members ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Social Activities ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract COVID-19 infections are particularly lethal in older adults; thus, social activities of older adults and their families in the community have been restricted. The threat of infection, restrictions on social activities, and limitations on the provision of care services for older adults could increase family caregivers’ burden and impact their mental health. This cross-sectional study examined the association between family caregiving and change in depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, we conducted a mailed questionnaire survey on a random sample of functionally independent community-dwelling older adults in a semi-urban area of Japan. Based on the depression status between March and October 2020, participants were classified into four groups: “consistently non-depressed,” “depression onset,” “recovering from depression,” and “remained depressed.” Participants were assessed for providing care for their family members or not. Caregiver participants were also assessed on their caregiving role (primary or secondary), the severity of their care-recipient’s needs, and an increased caregiver burden. Data from 957 older adults were analyzed. The participants’ mean age (SD) was 80.8 (4.8) years, and 53.5% were female. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that family caregiving was associated with depression onset (OR=3.17 [95%CI=1.57-6.40], p=0.001) and remaining depressed (2.53 [1.36-4.71], p=0.004). Particularly, primary caregivers, those providing care for family members with severer care need-levels, and those with an increased caregiver burden had a higher risk of depression onset and remaining depressed. Family caregivers could have severe mental health conditions during the pandemic. Developing a support system is essential to protect their mental health.

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Feeling called to care: a qualitative interview study on normativity in family caregivers’ experiences in Dutch home settings in a palliative care context

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-021-00868-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maaike M. Haan ◽

Gert Olthuis ◽

Jelle L. P. van Gurp

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Family Members ◽

Complex Nature ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Norms And Values ◽

Qualitative Interview Study ◽

The One ◽

Bereaved Family

Abstract Background Family caregivers, such as partners or other family members, are highly important to people who desire to stay at home in the last phase of their life-limiting disease. Despite the much-investigated challenges of family caregiving for a patient from one’s direct social network, lots of caregivers persevere. To better understand why, we aimed to specify how normative elements – i.e. what is considered good or valuable – shape family caregivers’ experiences in Dutch home settings. Methods From September 2017 to February 2019, a total of 15 family caregivers, 13 bereaved family caregivers, and 9 patients participated in one-time in-depth interviews. The data were qualitatively analyzed following a grounded theory approach. Results Central to this study is the persistent feeling of being called to care. By whom, why, and to what? Family caregivers feel called by the patient, professionals entering normal life, family and friends, or by oneself; because of normative elements of love, duty, or family dynamics; to be constantly available, attentive to the patient while ignoring their own needs, and assertive in managing the caring situation. The prospect of death within the palliative care context intensifies these mechanisms with a sense of urgency. Conclusions Our analysis showed a difference between feeling called upon in the caring situation on the one hand, and how caregivers tend to respond to these calls on the other. Taking into account the inherent normative and complex nature of family caregiving, the pressing feeling of being called cannot – and perhaps should not – simply be resolved. Caring might be something families just find themselves in due to being related. Rather than in feeling called upon per se, the burden of care might lie in the seeming limitlessness to which people feel called, reinforced by (implicit) social expectations. Support, we argue, should enable caregivers to reflect on what norms and values guide their responses while acknowledging that caring, despite being burdensome, can be a highly important and rewarding part of the relationship between partners or family members.

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