Burden and Abuse Experienced by Caregivers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23990/sa.75847Keywords:
family caregiver, caregiver, care receiver, caregiving relationship, burden, abuseAbstract
The study assess the burden and abuse experienced by family caregivers, and the connection between the burden and caregiver abuse by the care receivers. The data were collected through a survey from the members of five different caregiver associations from members whose care receivers were at least 18 years old. The response rate was 53.7 % (N = 316).
The caregivers experienced a considerable amount of burden, mostly time-dependence burden, developmental burden and physical burden, and a lesser amount of social or emotional burden. Abuse by care receivers was common, particularly manifesting as psychological violence and violation of personal rights. Many had also experienced social abuse or physical violence. The least common forms of abuse experienced were sexual violence, financial abuse and spiritual abuse.
The factors related to the burden of caregivers were their health and financial situation, the care receivers’ possible memory disorder, behavioural disorders or their daily need of help, the time spent caring for the care receivers, the physical and psychological burden caused by caregiving duties, and the demands by family members, friends and others. The abuse experienced by caregivers was connected to: living with the care receiver; caring for one’s spouse or life partner; the memory disorder; depression and behavioural disorders of the care receiver; a poor financial situation of the caregiver; and demands by others. The abuse and burden experienced by caregivers are directly connected. The more they experienced abuse, the more they experienced burden. Caregiver abuse caused particularly emotional burden, but also physical, social and developmental burden.
