Abstract
This preliminary study explored the relationships of caregivers and elder family members for whom they provide care and to identify the caregivers' need for and perceptions of pharmaceutical care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in fall 1988 with a convenience sample of five caregivers who provided care for seven family members at least 65 years of age. The interviews focused on issues related to the elder's drug therapy and general need for pharmaceutical care. Four caregivers were over 60 years of age; one was 38 years old. The major stressors for caregivers seemed to arise from the changes that caregiving brings to family dynamics. The caregivers indicated that drug therapy was not a stressful part of their care-giving routine, but upon probing they identified several incidents reflecting serious concerns about the appropriateness of their respective care-recipient's drug therapy and the need for assistance from pharmacists. The results of this preliminary study should prove useful in identifying factors that influence information-seeking about medications by family caregivers on behalf of their elder care-recipients.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 75-84 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Geriatric Drug Therapy |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 1 |
State | Published - 1991 |