title: Caregiving problems and feelings experienced by family caregivers of stroke survivors the first month after discharge.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the major problems and associated feelings experienced by family caregivers of stroke survivors during the first month after returning home. Safety, difficulty in managing activities of daily living, and cognitive, behavioral and emotional changes of stroke survivors (for example, mood swings, lack of motivation, forgetfulness and memory loss, depression and calling the caregiver often) were the three most common problems experienced by caregivers during the first month. Other problems were loss of caregiver independence, confinement, tiredness and inadequate time to do caregiving tasks as well as managing stroke survivor physical symptoms, for example, pain, not eating and skin problems. The first month of caregiving is very dynamic and distressful for caregivers of stroke survivors and telephone contacts appear to be beneficial in assisting caregivers to cope with the caregiving process.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-1210, USA. grantj@son.uab.edu
authors.forename: Joan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Gerald L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Glandon
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Joyce Newman
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Giger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation