Assessment of experiences of survivors of cerebro-vascular accidents and their caregivers functioning at home in the Oshana region of Namibia

Abstract

<p>In the wake of a cerebro-vascular accident, survivor and caregiver are often apprehensive about being on their own at home; this is particularly so for those living in low socioeconomic circumstances in the rural areas of Namibia. The situation is aggravated by the fact that there is no structured system of home visits by health workers that could assist caregivers in their daily tasks. Phenomenological interviews were therefore conducted to explore how these caregivers cope with providing home care to the survivors of such accidents. The findings that emerged were categorised into four themes, namely, survivors were unable to provide self-care and were dependent on others for help, the altered role function and performance of survivors, negative emotions because of altered self-esteem, and disrupted social interaction. These experiences together illustrate that some survivors are unable to take care of themselves at all and depend completely on their caregivers for help.</p>

A home-based health care programme to facilitate coping in survivors of cerebro-vascular accidents and their Caregivers in Oshana Region, Namibia

“…Adequate information about the survivor's condition and the care that is needed, as well as the availability of social support, material resources and financial means, can enhance both the survivors' and the caregivers' self-esteem and thus assist caregivers to cope with the demands of care at home. Therefore, the quality of care for the survivors of cerebro-vascular accidents from the rural areas of Namibia is not only determined by their family, but also by the many spheres of influence that can have an impact on the quality of care that caregivers provide (Kuugongelwa & Small, 2015). Thus the philosophy of a home-based health care emphasises the harnessing of resources and bolstering of optimism.…”