Profound changes in health care systems around the world have resulted in shorter hospitalizations and increasingly complex care by families at home. These changes have complicated the transition from hospitalization to home care for both patients and family caregivers. Although insuring smooth transitions from hospital to home has long been a central aspect of home health nursing, the far-reaching changes in health care have altered the nature of this transition and require us to reconceptualize it in the context of today’s health care environment. In this presentation we report on a qualitative study of family caregiving in which the transition from hospital to home was a central focus. Data were obtained from a larger study of family caregiving skill. Family caregivers (n=50) of adults with cancer were interviewed about their experiences with caregiving, any caregiving problems they encountered, and their strategies for managing these problems. In the qualitative analysis, the transition from hospital to home was conceptualized as a critical period in family caregiving. Families often were not prepared for the complexity of care they would experience during this period. Thus, the gap between hospital-based care and the provision of home health services was characterized by health risks for both caregivers and patients. At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to describe the transition from hospital to home from the perspective of family caregivers, identify areas of potential breakdown in this process, describe the consequences of such breakdowns, and articulate the implications for policy and practice.
Learning Objectives: Describe the transition from hospital to home from the perspective of family caregivers. Identify areas of potential breakdown in this process. Describe the consequences of such breakdowns. Articulate the implications for policy and practice.
Keywords: Cancer, Caregivers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.