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Caregivers' Experiences (caregiver + experience)
Selected AbstractsFamily Caregivers' Experiences with Community Services: A Qualitative AnalysisPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2003Betty Wehtje Winslow Ph.D. Abstract Researchers of family caregiving have presented mixed results in evaluating the effectiveness of community services in reducing family caregiver stress and have indicated that many caregivers use limited services or access services late in their caregiving experience. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of the use of community services, including benefits and barriers, by family caregivers of relatives with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. Community services included assistance with caregiving or related tasks and educational or emotional support that was provided by health professionals or community service providers. In this qualitative descriptive study, a convenience sample of 21 family caregivers was interviewed. Open-ended questions were used to explore the caregivers' experiences with community services. Transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content-analysis techniques. Results indicated that family caregivers received benefits of renewal, sense of community, and new knowledge and believed that their patient benefited from the services. Barriers to service use included care receiver resistance, reluctance of the caregiver, hassles for the caregiver, concerns over quality, and concerns over finances. These findings provide direction for community nurses and other health professionals in targeting interventions that will meet the expressed needs of caregivers. [source] Older caregivers' coping strategies and sense of coherence in relation to quality of lifeJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2007Anna Kristensson Ekwall Abstract Aim., This paper reports a study to investigate coping strategies and sense of coherence in relation to gender, the extent of care, caregiving activities and health-related quality of life in a population-based sample of caregivers aged 75 and over. Background., Caring for another person can be stressful both emotionally, and caregiver burden may affect quality of life in a negative way for the carer. Caregivers' experience of burden may depend on for example, the behaviour of the person cared for, their own health and their sense of coherence. Older people take a great part of caregiving responsibility and thus understanding of their strain and coping is required. Methods., A postal survey was carried out in 2001 with 171 informal caregivers, aged 75 or older. The response rate was 47%. The questionnaire included the Short-Form 12, Carer's Assessment of Managing Index, and Sense of Coherence instrument. Results., Almost 70% of caregivers provided help every day. Higher health-related quality of life was predicted by using self-sustaining coping strategies and by high sense of coherence. Poor economic situation and demanding social and practical support predicted low scores. Conclusion., These findings could help identify those at risk of low quality of life due to caregiving, dysfunctional coping or lack of information about care. Early intervention, including education about alternative coping strategies and practical information, might allow caregivers better possibilities to continue caring with less negative effects on their lives. [source] Caregivers' experiences of interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired childJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2004Hanna Maijala MNSc Background., On the basis of earlier research, caregivers' actions when interacting with clients should be developed. However, nursing research has focused little attention on the interaction between caregivers and families expecting a fetally impaired child. Aim., The study aimed at generating a practical family nursing theory of caregivers' interaction with families expecting a malformed child. Methods., A grounded theory study was undertaken at Tampere University Hospital in Finland in 1999,2000. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with 22 (n = 22) nurses and doctors. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Results., The interaction process starts when a caregiver informs the parents of the fetal impairment. The process is influenced by caregivers' attitude towards issues related to the family's life situation. Caregivers' views of their job, and of human coping and cultural attitudes towards these issues are also of importance. These factors account for their goals in the interaction, which, in turn, underlie their actions. When the caregiver's interpretation is that the family accepted the help provided, the outcome of the interaction is satisfaction with having been able to help. Correspondingly, in the case of an opposite interpretation, the caregiver experiences strain caused by inadequacy of the help he/she is providing. The core of interaction consists of two dimensions: gaining strength and losing strength in relation to impairment issues. Conclusions., Caregivers' views of helpful interaction were consistent with earlier research on the subject, but the findings of this study showed that more attention should be focused on the family as a whole. Furthermore, caregivers rarely criticized their own actions, thus their interaction skills should be upgraded by focusing on systematic self-assessment through training. Nursing research deepening our understanding of why interaction fails is warranted. Relevance to clinical practice., The study results can be used in the family nursing practice as tools in reinforcing the caregivers' ability to helpful interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child. The results may enhance caregivers' systematic self-evaluation and conscious use of the self. [source] 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: behaviour problems of children and adolescents and parental stressCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2008W. Briegel Abstract Background 22q11.2 deletion syndrome can be associated with a variety of somatic symptoms, developmental delays and psychiatric disorders. At present, there is little information on behaviour problems, parental stress and possible relations between these factors. Therefore, this study investigates behaviour problems of children and adolescents with 22q11.2DS, and their primary caregivers' stress. Methods Parents of 4,17 year old subjects known to the German 22q11.2 deletion syndrome foundation were anonymously asked to fill out several questionnaires, e.g. the Child Behavior Checklist 4,18 (CBCL/4,18). Results The primary caregivers of 77/126 children [43 males, 34 females, mean age: 8;0 (4;0,16;11) years] sent back filled-out questionnaires. Forty-six of 76 subjects were rated as clinical on at least one of the CBCL-scales. Males had significantly higher scores on the total problems scale and the internalizing problems scale than females. The patients' age correlated with several CBCL-scales. Eleven of 49 subjects were suspicious of an autism spectrum disorder. Compared with the general population, but not with other parents of mentally and/or physically handicapped children, the primary caregivers experienced higher levels of stress, but showed normal life satisfaction. Conclusions In spite of high rates of clinical behaviour problems among children and adolescents with 22q11.2DS and despite increased parental stress, most primary caregivers seem to have effective coping strategies, e.g. partnership support, to sustain normal levels of life satisfaction. [source] Caregivers' strong commitment to their relationship with older peopleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 2 2010Elisabeth Häggström RNT PhD Häggström E, Mamhidir, A-G, Kihlgren A. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 99,105 Caregivers' strong commitment to their relationship with older people The aim of the present study was to describe caregivers' good as well as bad experiences of working with older people. The study was based on five focus group interviews. One theme emerged from a latent content analysis: strong commitment to the relationship. This theme functioned as a thread of underlying meaning throughout the entire interpretative process of 48 caregivers' experiences of work. A delicate relationship existed that could be vulnerable and could reveal itself in feelings of lack of knowledge, guilt and fear. The caregivers' committed relationship to the older adults created independency in the ways in which they protected the older people's needs. Further studies are needed that focus on caregivers' transition from dependency to independency. The findings highlight the importance of clinical supervision to personal development and identity, and to promoting caregivers' self-esteem and maintaining a committed relationship. Commitment is a deep human feeling, and it should be promoted in order to maintain and further develop quality care for older adults. [source] Tactile stimulation associated with nursing care to individuals with dementia showing aggressive or restless tendencies: an intervention study in dementia careINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 3 2007Kirsti Skovdahl PhD Aim., This study aimed to describe from documentation both the caregivers' experiences of giving tactile stimulation to five people with moderate-to-severe dementia and who showed aggressive or restless tendencies, and the changes seen in them. Background., Clinical experiences indicate that tactile stimulation can contribute to a feeling of trust and confirmation as well as to improving communication, promoting relaxation and easing pain. There is, however, very little scientific documentation of the effects of touch massage for people with dementia. Design., From caregivers' documentation (28 weeks) of experiences, the giving of tactile stimulation to five randomly selected people with dementia showing aggressive or restless tendencies and the subsequent changes noticed. Method., The documentation was analysed by using qualitative content analysis. Results., All residents displayed signs of positive feelings and relaxation. The caregivers stated that they felt able to interact with the residents in a more positive way and that they felt they had a warmer relationship with them. Conclusion., Tactile stimulation can be seen as a valuable way to communicating non-verbally, of giving feedback, confirmation, consolation or a feeling of being valuable and taken care of. Relevance to clinical practice., Tactile stimulation has to be administered with respect and care, and given from a relational ethics perspective. Otherwise, there is a risk that tactile stimulation will be used merely as a technique instead of as a part of an effort to achieve optimal good, warm nursing care. [source] Family Caregivers' Experiences with Community Services: A Qualitative AnalysisPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2003Betty Wehtje Winslow Ph.D. Abstract Researchers of family caregiving have presented mixed results in evaluating the effectiveness of community services in reducing family caregiver stress and have indicated that many caregivers use limited services or access services late in their caregiving experience. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of the use of community services, including benefits and barriers, by family caregivers of relatives with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. Community services included assistance with caregiving or related tasks and educational or emotional support that was provided by health professionals or community service providers. In this qualitative descriptive study, a convenience sample of 21 family caregivers was interviewed. Open-ended questions were used to explore the caregivers' experiences with community services. Transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content-analysis techniques. Results indicated that family caregivers received benefits of renewal, sense of community, and new knowledge and believed that their patient benefited from the services. Barriers to service use included care receiver resistance, reluctance of the caregiver, hassles for the caregiver, concerns over quality, and concerns over finances. These findings provide direction for community nurses and other health professionals in targeting interventions that will meet the expressed needs of caregivers. [source] ,Jumping through hoops': parents' experiences with seeking respite care for children with special needsCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2009J. L. Doig Abstract Background Respite care may act as a means to reduce stress and fatigue in people caring for a dependent who has a disability. Despite this, a variety of barriers may exist to obtaining such services. This study explored caregivers' experiences seeking respite care for their children with special needs within a province in Canada. Methods Caregivers were recruited from two agencies providing respite care for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other mental health and developmental difficulties. In total, 10 caregivers participated in in-depth individual interviews. A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed in the design and analysis of the data. Results Caregivers discussed their frustrations with the process of finding and obtaining respite care, a course of action described as ,jumping through hoops'. This construct was composed of subcategories emphasizing the complexity of ,navigating the system', the bidirectional process of ,meeting the requirements' and the challenges of ,getting help'. Conclusions The collective experiences of these caregivers point to the need for more flexibility and co-ordination of respite care services for children with special needs. [source] | ||||||||||