Respite care: an integral study of caregiver burden and the level of satisfaction of respite care at the VA medical center, Augusta, Georgia

• Main Author: Newson, William L
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 1996
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/3812; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5335&context=dissertations

The overall objective of this study was to examine the level of satisfaction among caregiver, patient, and staff of a respite care program. Respite care at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia was used as the model. The sample population consisted of 18 caregivers, 14 patients and 55 staff members. Random sampling was used to select the caregiver and patient population. Staff members having more than six months experience with respite care were selected. A questionnaire was designed specifically to collect data and measure the level of satisfaction with Respite Care at VA Medical Center, Augusta. The findings revealed that over ninety percent of caregivers surveyed expressed a higher level of satisfaction than patients and staff. Also, sixty-one percent of the caregivers reported improvements in their health status following the respite period. Seventy-one percent of the patients stated that they would use the program again, and eighty-nine percent of the caregivers indicated that they would refer the program to others. The findings were analyzed utilizing percent comparisons and may aid in streamlining services for more efficient use of respite care.