DEFINITION:
Caregiver is vulnerable for felt difficulty in performing the family caregiver role.
A caregiver is someone who gives support and helps another person in need, such as an ailing spouse or partner, a helpless child, or an aging relative. Yet, family members who are actively caring for an older adult usually don’t self-identify as a “caregiver.” Delicately understanding this role can help caregivers receive the support they need.
Caregiver role strain is an important diagnosis that has been well-described and studied from many aspects. The core of this care plan is on the supportive care provided by the family members, significant others, or caregivers accountable for meeting the physical/emotional needs of the patient. With short access to health care for many people, most diseases are diagnosed and managed in the outpatient setting; and more caregiving is being provided by people who aren’t health care professionals.
Caregivers play a significant role in health. While caregiving can be rewarding and positive, many family caregivers experience significant physical, psychological, and financial stressors in association with their caregiving role. With this, they can be recognized as “secondary patients” who are at high risk for injury and adverse events. Nurses can aid caregivers by giving the requisite education and skill training, and offer support and guidance in every activity that promote their own health.
RELATED FACTORS:
- Illness severity of the care receiver.
- Unpredictable illness course or instability in the care receiver’s health.
- Duration of caregiving required; inexperience with caregiving complexity/amount of caregiving tasks; caregiver’s competing role commitments.
- Presence of situational stressors that normally affect families (e.g., significant loss, disaster or crisis, economic vulnerability, major life events [e.g., birth, hospitalization, leaving home, returning home, marriage, divorce, change in employment, retirement, death]).
- Inadequate physical environment for providing care (e.g., housing, transportation, community services, equipment).
- Lack of respite/recreation for caregiver.
- Marginal caregiver coping patterns.
- Caregiver health impairment
- Past history of poor relationship between caregiver and care receiver.
- Care receiver exhibits deviant, bizarre behavior.
- Presence of abuse or violence.
- Discharge of family member with significant home-care needs; premature birth/congenital defect.
ACTIONS/INTERVENTIONS:
Here are some things your nurse may discuss with you.
- Determine caregiver’s level of responsibility, involvement in, and anticipated length of care.
- Identify strength/weaknesses of caregiver and care receiver.
- Verify safety of caregiver/receiver.
- Discuss view of and concerns about situation.
- Discuss strategies to coordinate care and other responsibilities.
- Facilitate family conference, as appropriate, to share information and develop plan for involvement in care activities.
- Refer to classes and/or specialists (e.g., first aid/CPR classes) for special training as indicated.
- Identify equipment needs/resources, adaptive aids to enhance the independence and safety of the care receiver.
- Review signs of burnout (e.g., emotional/physical exhaustion; changes in appetite and sleep; withdrawal from friends, family, life interests).
- Stress importance of self-nurturing (e.g., pursuing self-development interests, personal needs, hobbies, and social activities) to improve/maintain quality of life for caregiver.