Becoming a caregiver: new family carers’ experience during the transition from hospital to home

Abstract

The findings of this study can stimulate healthcare professionals to acquire effective communication skills and display an empathic attitude when assessing caregivers' needs in the particularly challenging phase of transition from hospital to home.

Family caregivers: what do they need? An integrative review

“…In contrast, a longitudinal study with 18 caregivers of dependent patients on two occasions of before and after hospital discharge emphasizes that what changed over time was just the focus of the questions. Concerns of the caregivers slowly moved away from the recipient only in the post-discharge period, and they began to seek recognition of their own needs and appreciate the care provided (11) .…”

“…A longitudinal study of 60 family caregivers for patients of a stroke (cerebrovascular accident -CVA) observed a change in the needs of caregivers over time: before hospital discharge, two weeks after hospitalization and 3 months after hospitalization, revealing a decrease of these needs over time (14) . The omnipresent fear of the unknown enhances the perceived lack of information and preparation, especially in the pre-discharge period, but reducing in the post-discharge period (11) . The same results are presented in another longitudinal study of 10 family caregivers for patients with Motor neuron disease/ Amyotrophic Multiple Sclerosis, followed for 2 years.…”

“…Activities related to feeding, personal hygiene, mobility and dressing, previously performed with ease in daily life, have become tasks that require specific care and support (1) . The domain of knowledge and learning how-to for family caregivers is one of the needs mentioned in most studies (7,9,(11)(12)(14)(15) , as this allows for better understanding of this new role of Being the caregiver. Although the progressive nature of this process is visible in some studies, namely its variation in complexity and amplitude with regard to special needs (1,7,9,12,(14)(15) , the family caregiver adapts to the situation after a period and feels like they can overcome these needs (1) .…”

“…Transition is a concept associated to the crisis theory which occurs, as mentioned by Meleis in the theory of transitions, from transition processes arising from either developments, or health/disease (16) . The transition period is viewed as a period of great importance in learning skills for the amount of care required for the patient (11) . To (provide) care in an independent manner, caregivers need to acquire new knowledge and skills in the self-care dimension to meet all the activities of daily life, particularly regarding mobilization, transfer, medical care at home, exercises for rehabilitation, how to provide care at home, managing the unexpected, among others (12) .…”

Psychometric properties of the Caregiver Preparedness Scale in caregivers of stroke survivors

“…19 Caregivers of stroke survivors play a pivotal role in assisting in the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of stroke survivors 20 ; however, they often feel unprepared for their new caregiver role. 21,22 These issues can cause increased errors in care, duplication of services, and inappropriate or absent treatment for stroke survivors, and even increased risk for patients' readmission to hospital. 23 Several studies demonstrated that well-prepared caregivers can significantly influence stroke survivors' recovery and quality of life.…”