Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify characteristics of family caregivers of post-stroke patients and consider their understanding of stroke care in discharge planning. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants included 115 (65.3%) females and 61 (34.7%) males assuming the main caregiver role for patients discharged from a stroke inpatient unit. Participants completed questionnaires by face to face interviews, which were used to describe the demographics of the caregivers and their educational needs regarding stroke care. The duration of caregiving was 12.4 hours on an average day, with 74 (42%) having to assist ADL at a high level. One hundred and nine caregivers (61%) were extended family. Forty-four (25%) family caregivers were not in good health. One hundred and twenty-one (68.8%) family caregivers did not receive stroke care education. Managing medications was reported to be the most common education received by caregivers (151, 85%). Other education, such as methods of assisting ADL and preventing falls, was rarely given by health professionals, whereas information related to rehabilitation and nutrition of stroke patients at home was reported as most needed by family caregivers (58.8% and 21.6% respectively). Family caregivers were given insufficient education regarding the rehabilitation of stroke patients at home. This may affect caregivers’ physical and psychological status and affect the functional status of stroke patients. Future research related to effective discharge planning for family caregivers is needed to assist family caregivers in providing comprehensive home care for post-stroke patients.