title: Caregivers of children with disabilities: a comparison of those managing "OK" and those needing more help.
abstract: A survey was mailed to caregivers of children with disabilities to ascertain how they were managing caregiving. Caregivers reporting they were managing "OK" were compared to those who reported they needed more help or could not manage much longer ("not OK"). Results showed the not OK group of caregivers had children who were more severely impaired and functionally dependent. Their mothers were in poorer physical and mental health, had greater demands placed on their time and finances, and received less emotional support from friends and family. Special programs provided some assistance but not enough to meet their needs.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, School of Nursing, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brust
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008910:Minnesota; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires