The Impact of Formal Home Care Services on Health-Related Quality of Life of Family Caregivers

Kim, Eun-Young

Monday, 30 July 2012

Eun-Young Kim, RN, MPH, PhD
Dept. of Nursing, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
Bo Kyoung Cha, RN, PhD
Dept. of Nursing, Hanseo University, Seosan, South Korea
Chang Seung Park, RN, PhD
Dept. of Nursing, Cheju Halla University, Cheju, South Korea
Suk Hee Cheon, RN, PhD
Dept. of nursing, Sangji University, Wonju, South Korea

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the impact of formal home care services on health-related quality of life of family caregivers.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to understand the factors affecting the health-related quality of life of family caregivers.

Purpose: South Korea's population is ageing rapidly because of long life expectancy and a low birth rate, while traditional supports for elderly people are eroding. In response, the government initiated mandatory public long-term care insurance (LTCI) in 2008, to help older people to lead more independent lives and to relieve the burdens of family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of formal home care services on health-related quality of life of family caregivers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. This study included 191 primary family caregivers of older adults who utilized home care services (home-visiting nursing, home-visit care, or daycare) covered by public long-term care insurance. Data were collected from December 2010 to June 2011 using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression.

Results: The majority of the family caregivers were female (79.6%) and daughters-in-law (28.8%). The mean depression score was 6.33(±6.49) and the mean health-related quality of life score was 0.69(±0.39). The factors affecting the health-related quality of life of family caregiver were age of caregiver, health insurance, depression, home-visit nursing use, and daycare use, which explained 24.7% of their health-related quality of life.

Conclusion: Using home-visit nursing and daycare services has a positive effect on the health-related quality of life of family caregivers. To improve health-related quality of life of family caregivers, Korea needs to fully activate the formal home-visit nursing and daycare service, and to strengthen family support programs.

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