Professional home care and the objective care burden for family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury: Cross sectional survey

International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2020.100014 · Published: January 1, 2021

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Simple Explanation

Family caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injuries often face significant long-term care demands. This study explores whether professional home care helps to relieve these caregivers in Switzerland. The research investigates how family caregivers' time investment changes with professional home care, the tasks they remain involved in, and reasons for not using more professional help despite needing it. The findings indicate that professional home care supports family caregivers in situations requiring high care but doesn't replace their role entirely, suggesting the need for further support and recognition for these caregivers.

Study Duration

August 2016 to July 2017

Participants

717 family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional survey

Key Findings

1
Family caregivers with professional home care were more frequently involved in activities of daily living, such as eating and drinking assistance, compared to those without professional home care.
2
Adjusted analysis revealed that professional home care was associated with lower odds of family caregivers assisting in tasks like washing feet, transferring to the toilet, and climbing stairs.
3
Despite the availability of professional home care, many family caregivers reported unmet needs, primarily due to high costs and organizational issues.

Research Summary

This study investigated the role of professional home care in relieving family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury in Switzerland, focusing on time investment, task involvement, and unmet needs. The results indicated that professional home care supports family caregivers in high-demand situations but does not replace them, with family involvement driven by the care recipients' dependency. The study recommends increased flexibility in service provision, empowerment of family caregivers, and acknowledgment of their expertise by healthcare professionals to improve long-term care relationships.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Service Flexibility

Professional home care services need more flexible scheduling to better accommodate family caregivers' lives and reduce restrictions.

Caregiver Empowerment

Strengthen consultation and coordination to establish a robust caregiving network for families, particularly for complex conditions like spinal cord injury, to reduce uncertainty.

Financial Support Review

Address gaps in financing to ensure that insurance fully covers necessary services, especially in cases with high care demands and instrumental activities of daily living assistance.

Study Limitations

1
The study only considered the care activities of the primary family caregiver, potentially underreporting total care requirements.
2
The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between professional home care and changes in family care activities.
3
Unobserved variables, such as house accessibility and assistive device usage, might strongly influence the assistance in tasks.

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