Social Work in Health Care, 51(8), September 2012, pp.725-742.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... and estimated that their health had deteriorated. However, Luxembourgers felt “strong enough to cope”. The authors concluded that social workers could help carers by providing domestic assistance, undertaking coaching activities, fostering favourable attitudes, and offering reassurance.
Cerebrovascular diseases are an important public health and social policy concern in Europe due to their high prevalence and the long-term disability they may result in. Increasingly, family caregivers take over the care at home of these patients. Two years post-stroke, this study analysed the feelings of family caregivers from Luxembourg and Portugal toward their experience of caregiving and its repercussions on social and couple relationships, life satisfaction, and socioeconomic characteristics. Fifty two patients and their main caregivers were interviewed at home. The mean life satisfaction of caregivers was similar, but the experience of providing care differed in terms of family support, and disruptions of the caregivers' family responsibilities. More Portuguese respondents gave activities up, and estimated that their health had deteriorated. However, Luxembourgers felt “strong enough to cope”. The authors concluded that social workers could help carers by providing domestic assistance, undertaking coaching activities, fostering favourable attitudes, and offering reassurance.
Subject terms:
informal care, mental health, quality of life, social care provision, stroke, carers;