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Η εξουθένωση των φροντιστών των ασθενών με αιμορραγικό ή ισχαιμικό εγκεφαλικό επεισόδιο (Master thesis)

Λαϊνάκη, Ειρήνη

Older people are increasing and very often live with reduced functionality due to a disability related to chronic conditions such as stroke, and therefore need constant assistance. Such diseases can have many outcomes, ranging from complete recovery of the patient to the creation of severe deficiencies at many levels, or even death. Stroke has serious negative consequences, not only for the patient but also for his or her family. Usually, one of the relatives and friends is chosen to be the main caregiver, providing physical and psychological support, and helping the person to complete the needs of daily life. The time they need to devote to care is quite binding. The caregiver’s burden is a multidimensional term and includes all the adverse effects experienced by the assistance provider. The burden, which consists of two types, the objective burden and the subjective, is measured based on the hours of care, the patient’s functionality level and the changes, occurring in the caregiver's life. Several tools have been created to assess the general mental and physical health of the person, as well as the level of burnout. The member or members of the family, who take on the role of caregiver, need to adapt immediately to the new role and take on the tasks that the patient requires. They experience economic, emotional, physical, and social impacts, which also affect the quality of care provided. The effects that systematic care has on the person who provides it, affect over the years, both his physical and mental health. Caregivers use different types of coping strategies so that they can adequately meet their new role and manage the burden it causes. The rehabilitation of such diseases should provide a combination of care, both for the patient and for the family members who will continue his care. By improving the social support of informal caregivers and providing appropriate training, the negative consequences, resulting from systematic care, on the individual, regardless of their individual characteristics or the characteristics of the patient, are reduced. The care of patients with stroke is essential and plays an extremely important role both in the recovery process, as well as in the prevention of new episodes, but also in the holistic improvement of the patient's life.