SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY CAREGIVER OF A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA LIVING IN A CARE HOME
Tataru, Gabriela; Pajala , Annina (2013)
Tataru, Gabriela
Pajala , Annina
Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013091415296
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013091415296
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study was to determine the family caregiver’s need for information about dementia, specifically concerning their beloved ones in the care of “Akseli ja Elina-koti” care home. The research aimed at helping the family caregivers to understand the effects of dementia on their beloved ones. The results of the research were directed at facilitating a good relationship between the family caregivers and the care home staff in order to improve day by day life of the beloved with dementia living in a care home.
The collection of the research data was carried through questionnaires which enabled the respondents to consider their answers; to ensure their possible anonymity and to avoid their embarrassment when answering the questions. The questionnaires were left with “Akseli ja Elina-koti” personnel, to be handed to the family caregivers, in June 2012 and were collected at the end of July 2012. The questions within the questionnaire were open-ended in order to give the respondent the possibility to freely express their opinions in detail without feeling pressured, and to protect the sensitivity and the complexity of the issue.
This study found that in order for the family caregivers to be satisfied with the amount and quality of the information provided, “Akseli ja Elina-koti” care home staff is to offer more detailed and personalized information. Furthermore, as a solution for enabling a supportive relationship between the family caregivers and “Akseli ja Elina-koti” care home staff, improvement should be made in the staffs’ methods of communication and providing feedback. The family caregivers’ main expectation for improvement was concerning the quality of care, especially regarding personalized care reports, their involvement in the decision making of the beloved ones care, and the living environment within the care home.
The collection of the research data was carried through questionnaires which enabled the respondents to consider their answers; to ensure their possible anonymity and to avoid their embarrassment when answering the questions. The questionnaires were left with “Akseli ja Elina-koti” personnel, to be handed to the family caregivers, in June 2012 and were collected at the end of July 2012. The questions within the questionnaire were open-ended in order to give the respondent the possibility to freely express their opinions in detail without feeling pressured, and to protect the sensitivity and the complexity of the issue.
This study found that in order for the family caregivers to be satisfied with the amount and quality of the information provided, “Akseli ja Elina-koti” care home staff is to offer more detailed and personalized information. Furthermore, as a solution for enabling a supportive relationship between the family caregivers and “Akseli ja Elina-koti” care home staff, improvement should be made in the staffs’ methods of communication and providing feedback. The family caregivers’ main expectation for improvement was concerning the quality of care, especially regarding personalized care reports, their involvement in the decision making of the beloved ones care, and the living environment within the care home.