Health Needs of Family Caregivers of Patients in Day Care Facilities
Summary
The project "Health Needs of Family Caregivers of Patients in Day Care Facilities" aims to examine the current health status and the burdens and resources that significantly impact the health of caregivers of users in day care facilities. Through an initial analysis, the results of this investigation will be compared with the findings from the AWO project "Caregiving Relatives in the Neighborhood – Promoting Health, Strengthening Prevention (PfIAQ)." Based on these findings, initial action needs for prevention and health promotion for this specific target group will be derived.
Background
Currently, 5 million people in Germany rely on care, and this number is expected to rise to 6.8 million by 2055. The majority of care recipients (84%) are cared for at home, including 2.56 million solely by relatives. Many care recipients also receive a combination of formal care (home care services and day care) and informal care from relatives. However, specific data for informal care within this care mix are not present. Informal care is provided by non-professional individuals from the care recipient's social network (e.g., partners, family members), and it includes assistance with daily activities and everyday tasks for a period of at least three months. Studies have shown that informal care is associated with various health burdens for family caregivers. Additionally, there is currently no specific data on the health status of family caregivers of care recipients of day care facilities.
Aim of the project
The present project aims to specifically target the group of family caregivers of care recipients of day care facilities by
- analyzing their health status and health determinants,
- examining their daily experiences of specific burdens and resources,
- in order to derive recommendations for action areas and intervention approaches for prevention and health promotion.