Factors influencing the burden on caregivers of patients at one month after discharge from convalescent ward

Abstract

The purpose of this interdisciplinary and longitudinal study was to clarify the factors influencing the burden on caregivers of patients at one month after their hospitalization in the convalescent ward. The study participants were 25 pairs of family caregivers and care receivers who were living at home under their family's care. Basic characteristics, cognitive function, and activities of daily living （ADL） were evaluated in the care receivers, Characteristics, ADL, burden, and the difference between the expected and actual amount of care provided at one month after hospitalization were evaluated in caregivers. The results suggested that the factors affecting caregiver burden are sleeping hours per day, which is consistent with findings in previous studies, and the difference between the expected and actual amount of care provided, which to our knowledge, is reported here for the first time. Therefore, to reduce caregiver burden, caregivers should get adequate sleep and be given a concrete framework regarding patient care.