Needs of family caregivers in home care for older adults

Abstract

Objective:to reveal the felt and normative needs of primary family caregivers when providing instrumental support to older adults enrolled in a Home Care Program in a Primary Health Service in the South of Brazil. Methods:using Bradshaw's taxonomy of needs to explore the caregiver's felt needs (stated needs) and normative needs (defined by professionals), a mixed exploratory study was conducted in three steps: Descriptive quantitative phase with 39 older adults and their caregiver, using a data sheet based on patient records; Qualitative exploratory phase that included 21 caregiver interviews, analyzed by content analysis; Systematic observation, using an observation guide with 16 caregivers, analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results:the felt needs were related to information about instrumental support activities and subjective aspects of care. Caregivers presented more normative needs related to medications care. Conclusion:understanding caregivers' needs allows nurses to plan interventions based on their particularities.

Caring ability of family caregivers of patients on cancer treatment: associated factors

“…Regarding family caregivers, the present study, like other studies with this population, identified that the majority was women, with a mean age of 48.68 years and with a partner 17 - 19 . This reinforces the social role of women still present in society, which comes from a historically determined construction and interconnected with the fact that women did not perform activities outside the home, which gave them greater availability - and learning possibility - for the care of the home, children and family 18 .…”

Relationship between elderly stroke patient caregivers scale and nursing diagnoses

“…In addition, especially after stroke, older adults may need incontinence pads to manage their excreta, depending on the level of dependence. Incontinence diaper changes are complex as many caregivers are not accustomed to doing so routinely (20) . Incontinence diaper changes require training by health care professionals using a return demonstration method (20)(21) .…”

“…However, another national study with informal caregivers of the elderly identified that they often experience doubts about these activities. Patient transfers are usually learned during daily care, without guidance from health professionals (20) .…”

“…The provision of technical assistance by informal caregivers can generate feelings of doubt because adult children are now parental caregivers. Role reversals make adult children have doubts about what they can and cannot decide for a parent when providing hands-on care on their behalf (20,27) . Providing care to a parent is an emotionally-charged experience that can evoke negative feelings in adult children (20) .…”

Nursing home care educational intervention for family caregivers of older adults post stroke (SHARE): study protocol for a randomised trial

“…These adults require assistance for daily activities and they are cared for by their own family at home [3]. The family caregivers face difficulties related to the instrumental, emotional and financial support and also the lack of knowledge and skills to perform the activities of care [4]. Support programs for caregivers after hospital discharge have demonstrated beneficial effects when structured in training interventions for family caregivers so that stroke survivors can receive proper care at home [5, 6].…”