A Casework Intervention Study On Stress Relief For Family Caregivers Of The Elderly With Disabilities

With the growth of the elderly population and the increase in the number of chronic disease patients in China,the number of disabled elderly people is gradually increasing,which has led to significant pressure on family caregivers.In China,family caregiving is an important way to care for disabled elderly people,but the heavy workload can bring multiple pressures to family caregivers,which not only directly affects their survival status,but also further affects the quality of life of disabled elderly people.Therefore,paying attention to the physical and mental health of family caregivers of disabled elderly people and relieving their caregiving pressure has significant practical significance.This article focuses on a family caregiver of a disabled elderly person and employs a case work approach from June to October 2022.Guided by the social support theory and the strengths perspective theory,data on the caregiver’s stressors and social support were collected using interviews,observations,and questionnaires.Multiple stressors were identified,including physical,psychological,economic,familial,and societal pressures.Based on the caregiver’s needs assessment,a service plan was designed and implemented to address these stressors.During the intervention phase,strategies such as venting negative emotions,adjusting cognitive biases,linking community resources,improving family relationships,and enhancing interpersonal communication were employed to help the caregiver alleviate psychological stress,restructure positive cognitions,improve caregiving skills,and establish social support networks.Finally,the entire service process was summarized and reflected upon,and the case was closed based on the evaluation.The results of the evaluation showed that the caregiver’s stress was reduced,their abilities were enhanced,and a diverse social support network was established.Through the case work intervention targeting family caregivers of disabled elderly persons,we found that these caregivers face significant stress,and case work intervention is an effective way to alleviate their stress.The strengths perspective and social support theory are also viable in mitigating caregiver stress.In addition,the practical experience and research findings of this study provide useful references for future practice and research in this field.