| Summary: | 碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 社會福利與社會工作學系碩士班 === 103 === Abstract
In families with elderly members suffering from dementia, apart from care given by family members, another form of care comes in the form of assistance from day care centers. This study examines if day care provided to elderly individuals suffering from dementia has any impact on the family relationships in these families, and if the provision of such care enhances the quality of life for the caregivers.
The objectives of this study are as follows. (1) To examine the psychological journeys families with dementia patients through; (2) To examine if day care services provided for elderly individuals have any impact on the quality of life of caregivers and family relationships; and (3) To provide recommendations for the delivery of, and quality management for, such day care services based on the preceding objectives.
The research method in this study involves in-depth interviews with family members in an attempt to better understand the elderly individuals suffering from dementia and receiving care in day care centers, as well as their family members' experiences of using such services. A total of eight family members (with elderly family members suffering from dementia) were interviewed. The findings are as follows. (1) The psychological pressures faced by family caregivers change as the pressures faced by their elderly family members suffering from dementia; (2) The use of day care services for such elderly individuals lessens the burden on family caregivers and ensures proper care for elderly patients; (3) Family members typically learn about such services by way of recommendations from friends, relatives and co-workers as well as online searches; (4) The use of such day care services can effectively shorten the duration of caregiving for elderly individuals with dementia and lessen the burden on caregivers; and (5) Individuals who have opted for day care services for elderly family members with dementia consequently have their time freed up for other household matters.
Lastly, from this study the author offers four recommendations for caregivers who opt for day care services. (1) The period in which such services are available should be lengthened to provide more flexibility for caregivers; (2) Standards for the quality of day care services should be established to reduce quality variation across different service providers; (3) The government should enhance its awareness campaigns for, and links with, day care centers; and (4) The development of day care centers should be augmented across all districts to minimize the urban-rural gap.
Keywords: dementia, day care service, family relationship, quality of life, social support
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