Strain experienced by caregivers of stroke survivors in the Western Cape

Abstract

Recovery after stroke is often incomplete and many stroke survivors depend on family caregivers. The demands of caring can negatively impact quality of life of these carers. This study explores levels of strain experienced by caregivers and the variables that impact on their strain. A concurrent, mixed method, descriptive design was utilized. Fifty-seven caregivers of stroke survivors who received rehabilitation at the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre participated in the study. The Barthel Index and Caregiver Strain Index were utilised to collect quantitative data, which was statistically analysed (p <0.05). Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed.Fifty eight percent of caregivers were experiencing high levels of strain. The following variables significantly impacted on strain namely, caregiver loss of employment (0.04), emotional pressure (0.01), patient residual cognitive and perceptual impairments (0.01), personality changes (0.01) and physical dependency (0.0012). According to the qualitative data the burden was aggravated by financial problems, patient perceptual problems and patient personality changes. The findings indicate the need for support after discharge, ongoing community support and respite care to enable time off for caregivers.

Keywords

• caregiver
• rehabilitation
• strain
• stroke