Caregiving relatives

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Caregiving relatives are people from the family, friends, acquaintances and neighbors of a person in need of care who care for this person in whole or in part. The family is the largest informal care service in the state. The largest group of people are adult children who look after and care for their parents, followed by spouses for their partner, followed by parents for their children. In the extreme case of caring for children or young people, see Young Carers .

The care activities of relatives for their fellow human beings in need of care, also called lay care for short, is either dismissed as a matter of course in the perception of others or, because it is perceived as unpleasant, suppressed. It builds on emotions, bonds, loyalty, solidarity and moral obligation.

In the case of old people, harbingers often show that the need for care is imminent. For example, forgetfulness, which can be a symptom of the onset of dementia and requires constant presence of a caregiver. Or frequent falls , which is often summarized as frailty, which necessitates a cane, a walker or wheelchair and restricts mobility. For example, constant high blood pressure , chronic diabetes , Parkinson's disease , a stroke or an accident increase the risk of needing care .

Provision may legally by health care proxy and living will be taken to financially by insurance, socially through intact and active relationships with others.

Despite the harbingers, relatives are more likely to be suddenly surprised by the need for care and are then exposed to a large number of stresses. The consequences can lead to neglect of one's own needs, an overstrain syndrome and even burnout . It is psychologically stressful to see someone suffer and not be able to help. Caring for immobile people, who have to be moved, lifted, carried and supported, and are also no longer able to relieve themselves or meet their hygiene needs themselves, is physically stressful. It can be aggravated when people run away from home confused and need to be looked for or become aggressive and cannot be reassured. Permanent complainants who also neglect their options. Caring for disabled children is often associated with hopelessness about the future.

The time required for relatives can lead to other contacts, hobbies and other interests being withdrawn. Professional and other further training fall by the wayside, contacts with friends and acquaintances are reduced, causing the risk of job loss and isolation. Part-time work leads to a loss of income and a lower pension.

Professional caregivers have the task of supporting caregiving relatives and showing and offering relief options.

The social changes of the last decades went against the caring relatives. Women are now employed, housewives have become the exception. The jobs are often far from the parents' home. Married couples have become a minority and the trend towards single households is continuing. Low birth rates mean fewer children who are later eligible for care. The fact that the elderly are getting older due to the improved medical and nursing care also means that any children who are caring for them are already old themselves, are already walking on canes and are no longer resilient.

In 2005 540,000 people were cared for in Austria, 17% of them inpatient, 13% with outpatient support. 70% were cared for at home exclusively by relatives, 80% of whom were a woman, mostly between 50 and 70 years old.

The need for care and its scope is regulated by the state through the Care Allowance Act. The time required for care and maintenance due to a physical, mental or emotional illness or disability is recorded by a doctor.

Relief for care in the apartment can be provided by home helpers, nursing assistants or qualified nurses, depending on requirements and the situation. Training and ongoing communication with professional carers relieves the burden, as do self-help groups and offers from interest groups.

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See also

Portal: Care  - Overview of Wikipedia content on care

literature

Caregiving relatives
  • Consumer center: caring relatives - balance between care and relief. Consumer advice center NRW, 2002.
  • Elisabeth Bubolz-Lutz: Care in the family. Perspectives. Lambertus, Freiburg 2006, ISBN 3-7841-1662-0 .
  • Martha Meyer: Caring relatives in Germany. An overview of the current status and future developments. Lit-Verlag, Hamburg 2006, ISBN 3-8258-9921-7 .
  • Sabine Metzing: Children and adolescents as caring relatives. Experience and shape family care. Hans Huber Verlag, Bern 2007, ISBN 978-3-456-84549-4 .
  • Ilse Biberti: Help, my parents are old. How I learned to accompany father and mother with respect and humor. Ullstein, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-548-36980-8 .
  • Manfred Langehennig: Men in the care of relatives. Beltz / Juventa publishing house , Weinheim / Basel 2013, ISBN 978-3-7799-2820-1 .
  • Children and adolescents as caring relatives. Insight into the situation of those affected and options for support. Two studies by the Institute for Nursing Science at the University of Vienna, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection , Social Policy Study Series Volume 19, Verlag des ÖGB, Vienna 2015, ISBN 978-3-99046-157-0 :
    • Part I: Martin Nagl-Cupal, Maria Daniel, Manuela Kainbacher, Martina Koller, Hanna Mayer : Children and young people as caring relatives. Insight into the situation of current and former caring children in Austria. 2012.
    • Part II: Martin Nagl-Cupal, Maria Daniel, Julia Hauprich: Children and young people as caring relatives. Concept development and planning of family-oriented support measures for children and young people as caregivers. 2014.
Relatives in the nursing home
  • Sabine Kühnert: The relationship between the relatives of residents and employees in the nursing home. Forms of encounter, conflicts, cooperation. Lang, Frankfurt am Main 1991, ISBN 3-631-43556-8 .

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