The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41264

Barry Wolf, MEd, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Department, the University of Scranton, Leahy Hall 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510-2429, 570-941-6632, wolfb2@UofS.edu

Recent trends in home health care have contributed to a growing number of caregivers in the home and a significant increase in their overall roles and responsibilities. Due to various changes in health insurance, patients are returning home sooner from hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Many patients continue convalescing and completing rehabilitation programs in their own homes. The caregiver, typically a spouse, adult-child, or friend is confronted with new challenges and the required level of care can be quite intense and overwhelming. Stress, inadequate training, physical, mental, and emotional limitations of the caregiver may result in ineffective care and ultimately jeopardize the health and safety of both patient and the caregiver. Research demonstrates that caregivers suffer impaired health as a result of their caregiver status and related injuries and disorders (e.g., low back strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, cardiac conditions, etc.) are mounting. It is paramount that the home health care practitioner consider the emerging roles caregivers perform in the home and the direct link they have on patient progress and successful treatment outcomes. Educating and training the caregiver(s) should be regarded as a major focus of the home health arena. Specific measures must be taken to assess the caregiver's capacity to effectively meet the comprehensive needs of the patient at home and to promote caregiver safety. More efforts need to be directed toward educating caregivers in the home to better "care" for themselves, so in turn they can better serve the patient.

Learning Objectives: After attending this presentation, the participant will be able to

• Describe the evolving role of the caregiver (i.e., family member, typically a spouse or adult child) in caring for the elderly or disabled individual with functional limitations in the home.
• Identify five safety factors which directly affect the health and safety of the caregiver in the home.
• Discuss several strategies and methods which can maximize the caregiver's overall health and safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in caring for the elderly or disabled individual in the home.

Keywords: Caregivers, Injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.