Family caregiver assessment. Essential for effective home health care. 2003

Patricia J Bradley
Texas Christian University, Box 298620, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.

Home health care nurses do not routinely assess the health of family caregivers despite their essential contribution to the client's care. In this study, home care nurses collected data on 51 older family caregivers from their caseloads to assess their health. The average age of the caregivers was 75.1 years (SD = 6.09). Most (66.7%) were women and were the home health client's spouse (82.4%). These individuals had been caregivers for up to 20 years, and reported spending an average of 13.3 hours per day in this role (SD = 9.15). Approximately half (n = 25) of the caregivers reported poor or fair health, with 33.3% (17) reporting a decline in their health over the previous 6 months. Unmet health needs included the need for blood pressure monitoring, mammograms, PAP smears, and prostate examinations. Referrals to other health care providers or community agencies were required by 78.4% of the caregivers, 78.4% required health teaching, and 23.5% required home health services themselves. Those requiring home health care were more likely to be on more medications and classify their health as fair or poor. These findings confirm those of a pilot study conducted on 51 other family caregivers. Nurses serving the geriatric population need to conduct systematic family caregiver assessments to identify caregiver health needs that could impair their caregiving ability. In particular, for home health care to be effective, nurses must conduct caregiver assessments.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008603 Mental Health Emotional, psychological, and social well-being of an individual or group. Mental Hygiene,Health, Mental,Hygiene, Mental
D009730 Nursing Assessment Evaluation of the nature and extent of nursing problems presented by a patient for the purpose of patient care planning. Nursing Protocols,Assessment, Nursing,Protocols, Nursing,Assessments, Nursing,Nursing Assessments,Nursing Protocol,Protocol, Nursing
D005260 Female Females
D006304 Health Status The level of health of the individual, group, or population as subjectively assessed by the individual or by more objective measures. General Health,General Health Level,General Health Status,Level of Health,Overall Health,Overall Health Status,General Health Levels,Health Level,Health Level, General,Health Levels,Health Status, General,Health Status, Overall,Health, General,Health, Overall,Level, General Health,Levels, General Health,Status, General Health,Status, Health,Status, Overall Health
D006699 Home Care Services Community health and NURSING SERVICES providing coordinated multiple services to the patient at the patient's homes. These home-care services are provided by a visiting nurse, home health agencies, HOSPITALS, or organized community groups using professional staff for care delivery. It differs from HOME NURSING which is provided by non-professionals. Domiciliary Care,Home Health Care,Care Services, Home,Home Care,Services, Home Care,Care, Domiciliary,Care, Home,Home Care Service,Service, Home Care
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D015206 Southwestern United States The geographic area of the southwestern region of the United States. The states usually included in this region are Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. Southwest U.S.,Southwest US
D015577 Geriatric Assessment Evaluation of the level of physical, physiological, or mental functioning in the older population group. Assessment, Geriatric,Assessments, Geriatric,Geriatric Assessments

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