Factors contributing to resilience in families who provide for their handicapped children’s long-term medical care at home until adulthood: An analysis based on the insights of mothers as primary caregivers

Abstract

 The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors that primary caregivers feel are necessary for family resilience in raising medically handicapped children at home, for 10 or more years, until adulthood.

 The subjects were 10 primary caregivers, all of whom were mothers. The research was conducted by means of a questionnaire and interviews, and was qualitative and inductive in nature. The analysis yielded 95 codes, 36 subcategories, and 12 categories of factors. Sorting the categories according to Grotberg’s concept yielded 3 “I AM” categories, 6 “I HAVE” categories, and 3 “I CAN” categories. The results suggested a strong correlation between the ability to continue caring for a child at home and “I AM” factors. Many of the “I HAVE” factors were indispensable for overcoming the challenges necessary for children to continue living at home. With regards to “I CAN” factors, emotional support for the mother seems to be an important factor in the ability to continue caring for a child long-term at home. We may infer that support that is based on these family resilience factors makes it possible for families to raise their medically handicapped children long-term at home.