Supporting family carers in the community setting

The author examines the pressures that may be experienced by carers in the community and discusses ways in which nurses can help to address these problems.     

Assisting carers using the ACTION model for working with family carers

This article is the first in a series of four that describes recent developments in Sweden aimed at promoting partnerships between older people, their families and formal service providers. The focus in this article is on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to help family carers to be more prepared for their caregiving role. It is based upon the PREP (preparedness, enrichment and predictability) model of nursing intervention (Archbold et al, 1995) which is applied in the context of a major ICT project called ACTION (Assisting Carers using Telematics Interventions to meet Older persons' Needs). The way in which ACTION has developed is briefly considered and the range of interventions used is described. Subsequent articles in the series reflect upon users' perceptions of the acceptability of the ACTION approach and a case study of the benefits of ACTION is also presented. Finally, the series concludes with an article which outlines the development of a call centre which is used to complement and augment the ACTION service.     

Supporting family carers in the UK: overview of issues and challenges

Support for family carers is currently a policy priority in both health and social care. However, despite the launch of the Carers' National Strategy there is a need for further innovation if services are to be optimally effective. This article identifies a number of issues and challenges for the future if family carers are to receive the type and level of support they need. It highlights the need to think more clearly about the intended outcomes of services supporting carers and about the range and type of interventions that should be provided if such outcomes are to be achieved.     

Supporting family carers through the use of information and communication technology--the EU project ACTION

Assisting Carers Using Telematics Interventions to meet Older persons' Needs (ACTION) is an EU project designed to improve the quality of life of frail older and disabled people and their family carers by the use of information and communication technology. It involved Sweden, England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Portugal. This article provides an overview of the research and development process of the ACTION system and services. The focus is upon the evaluation results with regard to the quality of life of older people and their family carers, the usability of ACTION and cost considerations. Recommendations are made regarding user-focused technology such as ACTION.     

儿童感觉统合失调与家庭环境因素关系的研究

目的 了解影响儿童感觉统合的家庭环境因素。方法 在沈阳市城区普通小学随机整群分层抽取１～６年级的学龄儿童１５８０人,采用问卷的方式调查其感觉统告状况及家庭环境因素。结果 沈阳市学龄儿童感觉统合轻度失调率３２．９７％,严重失调率９．８１％,男孩多于女孩,无年龄差异,与家庭环境因素密切相关。由他人照顾而非父母照顾,非家庭中养育而托养在外,父母文化程度低,家庭关系不和睦,父母对子女的教育态度不一致或采取简单粗暴的体罚教育方式等,儿童出现感觉统合失调者显著增多。结论 家庭环境因素对儿童的感觉统合有显著影响。应针对家庭环境因素采取积极有效措施,稳定家庭结构,提高父母自身素质等,为儿童身心健康发展创造良好的家庭环境。     

Effect of stroke on family carers and family relationships

The effects of stroke on families are considerable. Family members may struggle to adapt to a care-giving role, and relationships between stroke survivors and those closest to them are often altered by the illness. This article provides an overview of the effects of stroke on family dynamics and identifies interventions to support stroke survivors and their families during this difficult time.     

Family carers. 3: Coping strategies among family carers in Sweden

This is the third of four articles considering various aspects of family care giving in Sweden. The previous articles (Vol 8(9): 582-588; Vol 8(10): 647-652) have looked at the difficulties carers face and their sources of satisfaction from what they do. This, the final empirical article, presents data from the same group of carers on the coping strategies and tactics that they use. It demonstrates that carers often employ a complex range of coping behaviours and it is suggested that healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, must be aware of and seek to complement carers' coping patterns if more appropriate and sensitive services are to be developed.     

Supporting the carers of individuals affected by colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, and many difficulties may be experienced as a direct consequence of the disease and its treatment. These can be alleviated and/or resolved with appropriate care. Much of this care is provided informally by the individual's family and friends, whose care needs may be practical, emotional, financial, spiritual or organizational in nature. Care requirement can, as a consequence, be variable in its responsibilities, regularity and duration, since the individual diagnosed with colorectal cancer may require a wide range of support throughout their cancer journey, or have only a few temporary care needs, depending on their disease, treatment and a multitude of other personal, interpersonal and contextual factors. This highlights the importance of regular and individualized assessment. The caregiver's role is often forgotten and hence the impact it may be having upon their own health and lives gets overlooked. Yet, a carer's ability to manage this role has an important bearing not only on patient experience but also on the level of professional involvement. To perform this role satisfactorily carers need to be prepared, supported and also assessed at key points in the patient's cancer journey. Nurses have a professional obligation to help carers by first preparing them, then maintaining sufficient contact to be able to proactively provide practical support and additional health care as needed. This article focuses on these carers and highlights the scope, associated challenges and possible consequences of the caring role. It also seeks to stimulate reflection of how current service provision for carers might be improved.     

User-friendly technology to help family carers cope

BACKGROUND: Increases in the older adult population are occurring simultaneously with a growth in new technology. Modern technology presents an opportunity to enhance the quality of life and independence of older people and their family carers through communication and access to health care information. AIM: To evaluate the usability of a multimedia software application designed to provide family carers of the elderly or disabled with information, advice and psychological support to increase their coping capacity. INTERVENTION: The interactive application consisted of an information-based package that provided carers with advice on the promotion of psychological health, including relaxation and other coping strategies. The software application also included a carer self-assessment instrument, designed to provide both family and professional carers with information to assess how family carers were coping with their care-giving role. DESIGN: Usability evaluation was carried out in two stages. In the first stage (verification), user trials and an evaluation questionnaire were used to refine and develop the content and usability of the multimedia software application. In the second (demonstration), stage evaluation questionnaires were used to appraise the usability of the modified software application. FINDINGS: The findings evidenced that the majority of users found the software to be usable and informative. Some areas were highlighted for improvement in the navigation of the software. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that with further refinement, the software application has the potential to offer information and support to those who are caring for the elderly and disabled at home.     

Meaning-making for family carers in nursing homes

Kellett UM. International Journal of Nursing Practice 1998; 4: 113–119 Meaning-making for family carers in nursing homes This ontological hermeneutic study highlights the importance of understanding the human experience of family caring. In contrast to much family caregiving research which focuses upon the home care situation, this study involved in-depth audiotaped conversational interviews and observations with 14 family carers who continue to care within a nursing home context. Thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews/field notes uncovered a number of common themes of meaning which highlight the nature of family caring experience in nursing homes. Discussion of such findings will challenge practitioners to reconceptualise the nurse–resident–family carer relationship, appreciate the many ways in which a family member’s involvement in care provides meaning and significance in their lives, and understand family carers through a process of human relating which fosters families’ meaningful involvement in caring within a nursing home context.     

Family carers. 4: Designing services to support family carers in Sweden

This, the last of four articles focusing on family caregiving in Sweden, considers ways in which services can be designed to better support and complement care provided by the family. Drawing on the results presented in the previous three articles (Vol 8(9): 582-8; Vol 8(10): 647-52; Vol 8(11): 735-40) the need to provide flexible and responsive services will be highlighted. While acknowledging the importance of services which help with the physical aspects of caring, emphasis will be placed on the need to develop an expanded range of interventions which recognize and respond to the social and emotional impact of caring.     

Supporting family caregivers: communicating with family caregivers

Nurses can foster partnerships with patients and families during acute care hospitalizations.