Positive Insights into Successful Caregiving

An excerpt from Stroke Connection 

In a recent telephone survey clients and their families reported problems, centered on frustrations in day-to-day situations.  These included, feelings of inadequacy and struggling to find “normal” situations. 

However, reports of positive experiences outnumbered problems.  Three themes in successful caregiving emerged: “making it through and striving for independence,” ” doing things together and seeing accomplishments in others” and “reaching a new sense of normal and finding balance in life.”  A representative comment was that the stroke caregivering situation “changed my outlook on life.  I can let the small  things go, because they can wait. “ 

Researchers suggested their survey could help other clients, families and caregivers assume new behaviors and change to meet their responsibilities and could be used “to tailor interventions based on caregivers’ difficult, yet rewarding experiences.”

Tags: Caregivers, Caregiving, home health care, Nursing