PURPOSE: Purposes of this study were to develop a community-based respite program for family caregivers and to test the effects of the program. METHODS: Focus group interviews were performed to extract meaning of respite care for family caregivers (13 participants) and a survey was done to identify respite needs of family caregivers (157 participants). The community-based respite program for family caregivers was developed based on results of the focus group interview and survey. The program was used with 41 participants (19 experimental and 22 control). Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to test differences between control and experimental groups for respite needs, burden of caregivers, subjective wellbeing, social support, fatigue and functional status of elders with dementia. RESULTS: There were statistical differences in caregiver burden, subjective wellbeing, and social support after the program, but, none for respite needs, fatigue and functional status of elders with dementia. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a respite program can be useful to decrease burden of caregivers and increase subjective wellbeing and perceived social support of family caregivers in community settings. Further intervention research is needed to increase the functional status of elders with dementia and decrease fatigue in caregivers.
Caregivers ; Dementia ; Fatigue ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Respite Care

PURPOSE: Respite care is not a discrete intervention, but encompasses a range of services. This research was conducted to clarify the phenomenon of respite care for family caregivers of elders with dementia from a nursing perspective. METHODS: The Hybrid Model of concept development was applied to clarify the concept of respite care for family caregivers of elders with dementia. The study was conducted in the following three steps, theoretical phase, fieldwork phase, and final analytic phase. RESULTS: The definition of respite care for family caregivers of elders with dementia was delineated through integration of data analyses in theoretical and fieldwork phase, and has three dimensions; tailored supports for caregivers, tailored supports based on physical and cognitive function of elders with dementia and community interventions related to family care function. CONCLUSION: Through this study, the concept of respite care for family caregivers of elders with dementia is clarified and reformulated as nursing practice phenomena in the Korean context, which indicates ways to develop caring practice forms for a family living with an elder with dementia in a community setting.
Caregivers ; Chimera ; Dementia ; Humans ; Respite Care ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the day care service for the elderly and family with the stroke. METHOD: Data were collected from September 2002 to March 2003 by self report questionnaires and interview. 50 elderlies and families(Gr I) who used day care center were compared with 51 elderlies and families (Gr II) who didn't used. The data were analyzed using independent sample t test and chi square test. RESULT: The general characteristics, stressors, and situational variables related to outcome variables were homogeneous between two groups. The caregiver burden(t=-2.287, p=.024) score in the Gr I was significantly lower than in the Gr II. However there was no evidence of an effect day care center attendance on the depression of the elderly, the relationship between elderly and caregiver, and the family functioning. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that day care service was effective in reducing the caregiver burden of the elderly, however more day care service programs(elderly health management, rehabilitation...)will be added.
Aged* ; Caregivers ; Day Care, Medical* ; Depression ; Humans ; Methods ; Respite Care ; Self Report ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of respite care. The analysis was conducted by reviewing published intervention studies on the effects of formal respite care for caregivers of dementia patients, patients with dementia, and the prevented or delayed rate of institutionalization of the patients. METHOD: Two computerized databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL) were searched to find respite care-related articles published from the year of 1981 to 2000. A total of 49 published articles were identified. Of them, nine studies, which met for the inclusion criteria of this study, were included. RESULTS: Results revealed that there was little evidence of the effect of respite care on, not only caregivers' burden, stress, depression and well-being, but also the rate of institutionalization of the patients. It was noteworthy that dementia patients reported fewer problems in behavior, although cognitive functioning and activity of daily living abilities continued to decline. However, these findings should be carefully interpreted because of methodological problems, such as non-random sampling, non random group assignment, a small sample size, uncontrolled confounding variables, limited period of services, and no specific types of services. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to conduct intervention studies of respite care being conducted in Korea with the corrections of methodological problems suggested from this study.
Caregivers* ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Dementia* ; Depression ; Humans ; Institutionalization ; Clinical Trial ; Korea ; Respite Care* ; Sample Size

BACKGROUND: The rising Filipino population results in a proportionate increase in the aging population and its health care needs.
OBJECTIVE: In order to determine the demographic characteristics and needs of palliative and hospice patients in southern Metro Manila and surrounding provinces seeking care in a non-institutionalized setting, a chart review of 399 patients from 2 community-based hospice and palliative care programs was undertaken.
RESULTS: Results show that the usual demographic profile of a patient seeking hospice and palliative care in the community setting of southern Metro Manila and neighboring provinces is female, 51-60 years old, with a diagnosis of cancer, breast cancer being the most common. Majority had undergone prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Hypertension was the most common co-morbidity associated with the primary diagnosis, and pain was the most common symptom reported. The children were the primary caregivers of these patients at home, and written advance care directives were unavailable or initial consultation. The most common spiritual concern of patients was not the fear of death, but being a burden to their family members. Complementary services may be needed in order to help patients and their families cope with the terminal illness. These may include social work to help connect the family to other institutions that provide free medicines, counselling sessions both for the patient and family, respite care or providing a day off for the caregivers, and skills training for the primary care givers.

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Respite Care ; Caregivers ; Palliative Care ; Hospice Care ; Advance Directives ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Breast Neoplasms ; Hypertension ; Primary Health Care

PURPOSE: This study was a qualitative research study in which focus group interviews were used to collect data on the meaning of respite for family caregivers who are taking care of elders with dementia. METHODS: The focus group interviews and participants consisted of 2 family caregiver groups, for a total of 8 people taking care of their elders and 5 professional caregivers working in a geriatrics hospital or social welfare institutions. Content analysis was used and debriefing notes were referred in order to analyze the data. RESULTS: The meaning of respite in this research was measured using 4 main categories: 'Temporary break from routine', 'direct help', 'psychological comfort', 'valuables which cannot be taken easily' and 9 subcategories: 'Temporary diversion of attention', 'temporarily free from my duty', 'taking care of oneself', 'receiving economic help', 'empathize with others', 'comfort based on trust', 'resting together with the elder', 'no time to rest', 'cannot get out of one's obligatory duty'. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study show that rest means not only a temporary relief from caretaking, but also a real respite based on the patients' stable state and comfort. These results indicate a new meaning for respite, that the first step of respite program has to begin even when the caregivers do not recognize the need for respite.
Adult ; Aged ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Dementia/*nursing ; Family ; Female ; Geriatric Nursing ; Home Nursing ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nurse-Patient Relations ; *Respite Care