Carlsen Benedicte, Lundberg Kjetil
Uni Research Rokkan Centre, Bergen, Norway.
Scand J Caring Sci. 2018 Mar;32(1):213-221. doi: 10.1111/scs.12450. Epub 2017 May 5.
In the Scandinavian countries and elsewhere, family care is important as a complement for older people in the professional care system. Better understanding of this role could lead to better cooperation between professionals and family carers and better use of family carers as a resource in care for older people.
The aim of this study was to explore experiences of the role of family carers of older people in need of services and therefore to increase our understanding of this role.
The study was designed as a qualitative interview study. In 2014 and 2015, we conducted semistructured interviews with a varied sample of 16 family carers of older people in both urban and rural locations in Norway. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically.
The way the caregiving role was enacted varied greatly between the family carers in this study, but they all conveyed mixed feelings regarding their role. They saw caring for their relative both as a duty and a strain, as well as a choice and a meaningful task. One reason for their engagement was perceived deficiencies in professional care services. Family carers thus felt they made a difference to the older person's well-being and health, and more so if this role was acknowledged by professional caregivers.
This study suggests that in spite of or perhaps even because of feelings of obligation and strain, family care is experienced as highly meaningful. However, it seems important that family carers receive explicit appreciation from professional health or care staff.
在斯堪的纳维亚国家及其他地区，家庭护理作为专业护理体系中老年人护理的补充方式十分重要。更好地理解这一角色有助于专业人员与家庭护理人员之间开展更有效的合作，并能更充分地利用家庭护理人员这一资源来照顾老年人。
本研究旨在探索需要服务的老年人的家庭护理人员对自身角色的体验，从而增进我们对这一角色的理解。
本研究设计为质性访谈研究。2014年和2015年，我们对挪威城乡地区16名老年人的家庭护理人员进行了半结构化访谈，样本具有多样性。访谈内容进行了转录并作主题分析。
本研究中的家庭护理人员履行护理职责的方式差异很大，但他们对自身角色都表达了复杂的感受。他们认为照顾亲属既是一项责任也是一种负担，既是一种选择也是一项有意义的任务。他们参与护理的一个原因是察觉到专业护理服务存在不足。家庭护理人员因此觉得自己对老年人的幸福和健康产生了影响，而且如果这一角色得到专业护理人员的认可，这种影响会更大。
本研究表明，尽管家庭护理可能会带来义务感和压力感，甚至可能正是由于这些感受，家庭护理仍被视为极具意义。然而，专业医护人员明确表达赞赏似乎很重要。
