Study of Social Support for Home Caregivers of Elderly

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Surveys on the caregiving stresses and their relieving factors were conducted. 551 members of caregivers groups who have bedridden elderlys were asked to answer questionnaires by mail, and 258 valid answers (46.8%) were collected. We selected 239 people who have patients older than 65 years old. A stress-support model was proposed in terms of caregiving stresses and their indirect causes. The analyses includes caregiver's burden, mental health, private support through personal relations and public support. The difference due to types and sources of the supports was classified. We found that 1) Burden increases with a degree of dementia and age of patients. In rapidly aging societies like Japan, a fast counteraction is necessary. 2) Burden decreases with a number of years as a member of caregivers groups and help from sub-caregivers. The members of caregiver groups have less burden from anxieties to future uncertainties. 3) Public and private social supports show no appreciable effect on reduction of burnout feeling, but they suggest some direct, and relieving effects in a lower scores analysis subordinate position item. This effect due to the social support is limited, and activation of social support supply is desirable. 4) The type analysis indicates that people who have support by friends and/or informational support have higher scores in satisfaction. They have positive attitude towards solving problems. These supports are important in caregivers' quality of life. 5) The source analysis shows that people who have emotional support, from families have less burden. To supply social support by other than family members is a future problem for socialization of caregiving.