An Analysis of the Meaning of Respite for Family Caregivers of Elderly with Dementia

Song, Mi Ryeong; Lee, Yong-Mi; Cheon, Suk-Hee

doi:10.4040/jkan.2010.40.4.482

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010 Aug;40(4):482-492. Korean.
Published online Aug 31, 2010.
https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.4.482

Original Article

An Analysis of the Meaning of Respite for Family Caregivers of Elderly with Dementia

Mi Ryeong Song,¹ Yong-Mi Lee,² and Suk-Hee Cheon³

Author information

Author notes

Copyright and License

- ¹Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Hoseo University, Asan, Korea.
- ²Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
- ³Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Sangji University, Wonju, Korea.
Address reprint requests to: Lee, Yong-Mi. Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, 192-1 Hyoja-dong, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea. Tel: 82-33-250-8889, Fax: 82-33-242-8840, Email: rena@kangwon.ac.kr

Received March 15, 2010; Accepted August 09, 2010.

Abstract

Purpose

This study was a qualitative research study in which focus group interviews were used to collect data on the meaning of respite for family caregivers who are taking care of elders with dementia.

Methods

The focus group interviews and participants consisted of 2 family caregiver groups, for a total of 8 people taking care of their elders and 5 professional caregivers working in a geriatrics hospital or social welfare institutions. Content analysis was used and debriefing notes were referred in order to analyze the data.

Results

The meaning of respite in this research was measured using 4 main categories: 'Temporary break from routine', 'direct help', 'psychological comfort', 'valuables which cannot be taken easily' and 9 subcategories: 'Temporary diversion of attention', 'temporarily free from my duty', 'taking care of oneself', 'receiving economic help', 'empathize with others', 'comfort based on trust', 'resting together with the elder', 'no time to rest', 'cannot get out of one's obligatory duty'.

Conclusion

The findings of the study show that rest means not only a temporary relief from caretaking, but also a real respite based on the patients' stable state and comfort. These results indicate a new meaning for respite, that the first step of respite program has to begin even when the caregivers do not recognize the need for respite.

Keywords

Dementia; Elderly; Caregivers; Respite

Tables

Table 1
Socio-Demographic Characteristics (Family Caregivers)

Click for larger image

Table 2
Socio-Demographic Characteristics (Professional Caregivers)

Click for larger image

Notes

This work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) (NRF-2008-314-E00266).

References

1. Baek KS, Kwon YS. A study on the effects of the psychological well-being for the caregiving burden of the major caregivers of demented elderly. Journal of Welfare for the Aged 2008;39:33–52.
1. Brody EM, Saperstein AR, Lawton MP. A multi-service respite program for caregivers of Alzheimer's patient. Journal of Gerontological Social Work 1989;14:41–74.
1. Chappell NL, Reid RC, Dow E. Respite reconsidered a typology of meanings based on the caregiver's point of view. Journal of Aging Studies 2001;15:201–216.
1. Exel J, Graaf G, Brouwer W. Care for a break? An investigation of informal caregivers' attitudes toward respite care using Q-methodology. Health Policy 2007;83:332–342.
1. Hiesh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitativecontent analysis. Qualitative Health Research 2005;15:1277–1288.
1. Kim JH, Kim NC, Im YM. Effects of short-term home visiting program on family caregivers of demented elders. Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing 2006;7:79–87.
1. Kim JS, Lee EH. A review of the effects of respite care for patients with dementia and caregivers. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2001;31:1077–1087.
1. Statistical report of the elderly people. Korea National Statistical Office. 2008 [Retrieved October 2, 2008].
  from http://www.nso.go.kr.
1. Lee JS, Park AS. A study of factors influencing on family caregiver's burden for the elderly with dementia-focused on the day care center and nursing home user's family. Journal of Welfare for the Aged 2008;40:225–248.
1. Lee OH. The needs and the service-preference of the elderly and his family in using community care services. Journal of Public Welfare Administration 2006;16(2):47–70.
1. Lund DA, Utz R, Caserta MS, Wright SD. Examining what caregivers do during respite time to make respite more effective. Journal of Applied Gerontology 2009;28:109–131.
1. Nationwide study on th prevalence of dementia in Korean elders. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2008 [Retrieved April 16, 2009].
  from http://www.mohw.go.kr.
1. Morse JM, Field PA. In: Qualitative research method for health professionals. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publication; 1995.
1. Nicoll M, Ashworth M, McNally L, Newman S. Satisfaction with respite care: A pilot study. Health and Social Care in the Community 2002;10:479–484.
1. Oh JJ. A comparative study on the effects of an individual intervention program and a group intervention program on the demented elderly and their families. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing 2008;19:205–215.
1. Park CJ. A study on respite care service model for family caregivers with the demented elderly. Journal of Welfare for the Aged 2006;32:295–326.
1. Phinney A. Family strategies for supporting involvement in meaningful activity by person with dementia. Journal of Family Nursing 2006;12:80–101.
  PubMed
  
  CrossRef
1. Pinquart M, Sorensen S. Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging 2003;18:250–267.
  PubMed
  
  CrossRef
1. Reinhard SC, Bemis A, Huhtala N. In: Discussion Paper: Defining respite care. New Jersey: Rutgers Center for State Health Policy; 2005 Jan.
1. Song MY, Choi GG. The decision factor on primary care-giver's burden for senile dementia elderly. Journal of Welfare for the Aged 2007;37:131–160.
1. Strang VR. Family caregiver respite and leisure: A feminist perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 2001;15:74–81.
1. Strang VR, Haughey M. Respite-a coping strategy forfamily caregivers. Western Journal of Nursing Research 1999;21:450–471.
1. Thompson CA, Spilsbury K, Hall J, Birks Y, Barnes C, Adamson J. Systematic review of information and support interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. BMC Geriatrics 2007;7(18):1–12.
1. Waite A, Bebbington B, Skelton-Robinson M, Orrell M. Social Factors and depression in carers of people withdementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2004;19:582–587.
1. Weber ND, Schneider P. Respite care for the visually impaired and their families. In: Tepper LM, Toner JA, editors. Respite care. Philadelphia, PA: The Charles Press; 1993.
1. Yih BS, Kim CM, Yi M. Women caregivers' experiences in caring at home for a family member with dementia: A feminist approach. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2004;34:881–890.