Factor analysis of nursing care stress experienced by home caregivers

Abstract

Healthcare is shifting from the hospital to the home, and many patients expect in-home care and end-of-life care; therefore, the need for home care is expected to increase. Caregivers are vulnerable to stress, making it difficult to maintain their physical and mental health conditions. This study objectively measured stress and analyzed its relationship with individual characteristics of caregivers, disease conditions of patients, and social support environments with the aim of determining caregiving from the family’s perspective and making recommendations for caregiving and nursing support. Stress data were collected from 15 users of visiting nurse stations in Saitama Prefecture using a questionnaire and a stress check sheet created by the Japan Association of Geriatric Health Services Facilities. The relationship between stress, caregiver characteristics, and caregivers’ attitudes was analyzed using statistical methods. The analysis revealed higher levels of stress in caregivers of older patients with dementia. Caregivers who felt that “the patient lived their own lifestyle at home as they desired and that they (caregivers) had control over their own time” had no stress, while those who felt the physical and mental burden of caregiving were under a lot of stress. Caregivers who felt financially burdened experienced stress but maintained the belief that they “could continue providing caregiving and live their own lifestyle.” The analysis suggested that active interventions by the government and staff of caregiving and nursing services (nurses and caregivers), government financial support, and physical and mental support provided by caregiving and nursing services were required in order for home caregivers to continue caregiving without stress.