Objectives: To identify the characteristics of the caregivers and their elderly recipients, and to describe the types of services they use, and patterns of use of these services. Design: This is a retrospective study of the elderly recipients and their caregivers in the Eastern Nebraska area. Population Sample Setting: This study focuses on the family caregivers and their elderly recipients who are utilizing the community resources in the Eastern Nebraska . Methods : Data were obtained from the Office of Aging, the Eastern Nebraska Respite network, the Alzheimer’s association, and the Community Caregiver Network, This is the first step in the process of getting a bigger picture of the need for community resources in eastern Nebraska. Data were obtained using a detailed record collection form, which was completed by the directors in charge of each of this community resources. Findings: Preliminary descriptive data analysis of the respite network, the adult day care, the Alzheimer’s association, and the community support network are giving interesting pictures of the characteristics of the family caregivers and the elderly family members they care for.. Further analysis is in progress to determine the correlates of utilization among these community services. Conclusions: Current utilization patterns and the characteristics of the caregivers and the elderly recipients in the community , will be projected in a poster format. Implications : Serving the need of the caregivers in the community will help reduce caregiver burden . The pattern of utilization of the available services will give an insight into what services need to be further expanded, and in deciding what further studies need to be done in determining how best to meet the needs in the areas not well utilized, especially by minority caregivers.
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Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003