| Background:Against the backdrop of population aging and disablement of the aging population,the lack of formal care provision for the older adults living with disability in China has become a social problem that cannot be ignored.At present,home care is the main mode of elderly care in China,and family care occupies the main position in long-term care for the disabled elderly.Family caregivers provide long-term support and assistance to the disabled elderly in daily life,nursing care,spiritual and financial and material aspects,and bear a heavy burden of care.If the long-term heavy care burden has not relieved and released in a timely and effective manner,it will eventually affect the quality of life of both caregivers.Objectives:This study explores the level of care burden of family caregivers of the older adults living with disability and their family caregivers with its influential factors by assessing the general status of care burden in Jinan,and provides policy recommendations to reduce the care burden of family caregivers.Methods:Household questionnaires were used to survey 219 pairs of older adults living with disability and their family caregivers in 12 districts and counties of Jinan from October 2020 to March 2021.Data were organized and analyzed using Excel 2010 and SPSS 22.0 software.The general demographic data of the older adults living with disability and their family caregivers were analyzed descriptively.The current status of care burden of family caregivers with different care burden levels was described.Chi-Square Test and Ordered state logistic regression analysis were used to further analyze the factors influencing the care burden of family caregivers of the elderly with disabilities.Results:A total of 219 paired questionnaires were collected from the older adults living with disability and their family caregivers in Jinan,with a valid return rate of 99.5%.52(23.7%)family caregivers had mild care burden,61(29.9%)family caregivers had moderate care burden,and 106(48.4%)family caregivers had severe care burden.In Jinan,76.3%of the family caregivers of the older adults living with disability had moderate or severe care burden.Family caregivers of the severely older adults living with disability tended to have a severe care burden(63.2%),while the proportion of caregivers experiencing a severe care burden decreased to 20.8%when the older adults had a mild degree of disability.The results of Ordered state logistic regression analysis showed:(1)Average monthly income of family caregivers was negatively associated with care burden.(2)Family caregivers with depressive/anxious conditions were more likely to perceive the risk of care burden than family caregivers who were not depressed/anxious.(3)Family caregivers’ self-rated health status was positively associated with care burden.(4)The average number of hours of care per day for family caregivers was positively associated with care burden.Conclusions and Suggestions:This study found that the care burden of family caregivers of the older adults living with disability in Jinan is generally high,and that support for family caregivers and alleviation of their care burden should be emphasized.Family caregiver depression,anxiety,and length of care were risk factors,and increasing these indicators increased family caregiver burden.The average monthly income of family caregivers and self-rated health status were the protective factors for care burden,and improving the corresponding indicators could reduce the care burden to some extent.Combining the relevant policies and experiences in Jinan,this study proposes the following recommendations to alleviate the care burden of family caregivers.(1)To provide respite services for family caregivers of the older adults living with disability.(2)To pay attention to and provide emotional support for families with disabilities.(3)To alleviate the financial pressure of care-giving for family caregivers through multiple channels.(4)To arranging health management services for family caregivers.(5)To improve the social support system for family caregivers of the older adults living with disability... |
PDF Full Text Request