A comprehensive assessment of family caregivers of stroke survivors during inpatient rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
Stroke caregivers have been identified as a group at high risk for poor outcomes as a result of the suddenness of stroke and a potentially high level of care needed due to significant functional limitations of the patient. However, there is little research on the assessment of family members who will assume the caregiving role prior to patient discharge from rehabilitation. The purpose of this article is to delineate critical assessment domains identified by a subset of spousal stroke caregivers.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted pre- and post-discharge from rehabilitation as part of a larger study that focused on identifying caregiver and stroke survivor needs as they transitioned home from inpatient rehabilitation. For this study, two semi-structured interviews with 14 spousal caregivers were analyzed using grounded theory methods.


RESULTS
Long-term stroke survivor outcomes were dependent upon the commitment, capacity and preparedness of the family caregiver. Twelve domains of assessment were identified and presented.


CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive, systematic caregiver assessment to understand the caregiver's concerns about stroke should be conducted during rehabilitation to help the team to develop a plan to address unmet needs and better prepare family caregivers to take on the caregiving role.


CONCLUSIONS
Stroke is a sudden event that often leaves stroke survivors and their families in crisis. The needs of stroke family caregivers are not often systematically assessed as part of inpatient rehabilitation. Long-term stroke survivor outcomes are dependent upon the commitment, capacity and preparedness of the family caregiver. Stroke caregiver assessment should include the commitment, capacity and preparedness to provide care, and the overall impact of stroke in order to develop discharge plans that will adequately address the needs of the stroke survivor/caregiver dyad.
Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL , USA .
Mary Ellen
ME
Young
Barbara J
BJ
Lutz
Kerry Rae
KR
Creasy
Kim J
KJ
Cox
Crystal
C
Martz
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012380:Role; D012943:Social Security; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014481:United States
Assessment; caregivers; family; stroke