The Study On The Elderly Family Caregivers' Health Status And Community Care Needs Of Shanghai

In the prevailing situation of aging in China, the health-related problems of the elderly's family caregivers (caregivers) have become prominent. Thus, to exploring the caregivers' experience, evaluating their health status and assessing their needs of community care are key to community care service planning.There were two parts in this study. The first part is the quantitative research. Objective: To explore caregivers' experience, assess their community care needs, and lay the foundation for quantitative research. Method: In accordance with the phenomenon study of qualitative research, using semi-structure interviews and observations, we interviewed 15 caregivers and recorded their experience to explore the caregivers' experience. Results: The caregivers' experience included three themes: physical and mental burden & limited time, lack of relevant knowledge and incompetence, and urgent needs of community care. The second part is the quantitative research. Objective: To assess the health status and community care needs of caregivers, analyze the factors which affected caregivers' health and community care needs, and explore the countermeasures. Methods: 557 caregivers from Xuhui Hongkou and Yangpu districts in Shanghai were surveyed by a questionnaire to assess their health status and community care needs. Results: The health status of most caregivers had declined, especially the physical health status, and the caregivers had great needs of community care. Carer burden, quality of care, occupation, family income, length of care and religious beliefs were main factors which influenced the caregivers' health status and their community care needs. In addition, there was a negative correlation between caregivers' health status and their community care needs, the. poorer health status of caregivers and the higher community care needs. Conclusion: According to the results of the two parts studies, the population of caregivers should be paid attention to. Some services such as training, guidance and social support should be provided to caregivers to improve their health status and meet their needs, which can ensure caregivers to provide quality care for the elderly. At last, the problems of aging should be solved by cooperation from all over the society.