The emotional needs of care recipients and the psychological well-being of informal caregivers: implications for home care clinicians

Home Healthc Nurse. 2008 Jan;26(1):50-7. doi: 10.1097/01.NHH.0000305557.29918.e5.

Abstract

In this exploratory study, 77 informal caregivers of older persons in Ohio completed telephone interviews that included questions regarding their perceived difficulty providing emotional and physical care, perceived quality of care, demographic items including caregivers' health status, and a measure of their psychological well-being. Findings suggest that psychological well-being of informal caregivers is diminished when they experience greater difficulty meeting the care recipients' emotional care needs, are in poorer health, or are older. Suggestions for clinical implications and future research based on these findings are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Home Care Services
  • Home Nursing* / methods
  • Home Nursing* / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Ohio
  • Regression Analysis
  • Social Support*