Qyinan Patty
Humber River Regional Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
CANNT J. 2005 Jan-Mar;15(1):25-32.
The caregivers' role is often unrecognized and invisible. Caregivers are usually female and, in most situations, the caregiver is the patient's spouse or life partner. Caregivers often experience emotional stress, anxiety, depression and worsening health, and caregivers of individuals with end stage renal disease also report feelings of isolation and overwhelming exhaustion. The caregivers' role has changed over the years and there is an urgent need for additional services to assist the elderly in shouldering the burden of caregiving through counselling, education, social support, home care and respite care. Health care professionals need to develop an awareness of the caregivers' experience when caring for individuals with end stage renal disease, and nurses, in particular, need to develop practices that are sensitive to the patients' and the families' needs.
照顾者的角色常常未得到认可且不为人所见。照顾者通常为女性，在大多数情况下，照顾者是患者的配偶或生活伴侣。照顾者经常经历情绪压力、焦虑、抑郁以及健康状况恶化，而终末期肾病患者的照顾者还报告有孤独感和极度疲惫感。多年来照顾者的角色已发生变化，迫切需要更多服务，通过咨询、教育、社会支持、家庭护理和临时护理来帮助老年人承担照顾负担。医疗保健专业人员在照顾终末期肾病患者时需要了解照顾者的经历，尤其是护士，需要制定对患者及其家庭需求敏感的做法。
