Social support, participation and collaboration of relatives in domiciliary care.
This article is based on material from two domiciliary care studies which were carried out in two large towns in southern Finland. The patients in domiciliary care received a considerable amount of both practical and mental or social support from their relatives. Support received from relatives correlated with patients' well-being. Patients who had more difficulties with physical daily activities received more help from relatives than patients who had less difficulties. Therefore, the help from relatives was necessary for continuing home care, especially for those whose physical condition was poor. The participation of relatives in the patient's care, particularly when they were able to collaborate with domiciliary care providers, improved the quality of patient care and enhanced the security and satisfaction of the patient.
Raatikainen
R
R
Dept. Gen. Pract. and Prim. Care, University of Helsinki, Finland.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires