Loneliness Experienced by Informal Caregivers of the Chronically Ill in Their Homes. Proposed Solutions and Practical Recommendations for Local Communities

Abstract

Loneliness experienced by family caregivers of the chronically ill in their homes is described starting with different aspects of solitude in social sciences. Family care as part of informal care should cooperate with formal careers from health and social systems. Welfare institutions and home care in Poland are described in front of growing challenges of ageing societies in Europe. Good practices and practical recommendations for local communities, including better coordination of care, as well as support for family caregivers at risk of loneliness and other difficulties are offered as a conclusion of this report.

Population Characteristics and Needs of Informal Caregivers Associated With the Risk of Perceiving a High Burden: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…41 A smaller social network mainly dependent on family members, eg, close family ties with few neighbors and peripheral friends, or focused on privacy, eg, absence of relatives and friends nearby and low levels of community involvement, 43 and feelings of loneliness were associated with perceiving a high burden. This is in line with the results of previous studies, 20,44,45 which indicated a higher burden when no support was received from the social network, probably because no back-up is available from family or friends.…”

The Loneliness of Home Care Family Caregivers in Poland. Inspirations from Carers UK regarding Social Education for their Inclusion and Support

“…43-58). Research and scientific books from the educational sciences addressed the growing problem of dementia for social workers and carers (Nowicka, 2015), and also the problems of solitude and loneliness of carers (Krakowiak & Wasilewska-Ostrowska, 2016). At the same time, sociologists started to publicise changes in life expectancy and ageing of the Polish population.…”