Factors Influencing Finances, Schedule, and Health of Family Caregivers with Hospitalized Relatives in the USA

Aim:  The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing finances, schedule, and health of family caregivers with hospitalized relatives in the USA.

Methods:  There were 123 family caregivers and 123 patients recruited from medical and surgical units in a Medical Center in the USA. The mean age of family caregivers was 54.80 years. The majority were female and married. The mean age of hospitalized patients was 65.68 years. About 52% of patients were diagnosed with Cancer and 48% with Chronic Diseases. A descriptive correlational research design was used. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. SPSS 23 was used to do the data analysis.

Results:  The findings indicated that the following factors had statistically significant positive relationships with family caregiver burden: family caregiver’s age, patient’s total symptoms, patient’s total activity of daily living (ADL) dependency, and lack of family support. The following factors had statistically significant negative relationships with family caregiver burden: psychological well-being ,  quality of caregiver-care receiver relationship, and knowledge of caregiving. According to the Multiple Regressions, the significant predictors of impact on finances of family caregivers were patient’s total ADL dependency and health status after being a caregiver. The significant predictors of impact on schedule of family caregivers were patient’s total symptoms, lack of family support, and knowledge of caregiving. The significant predictors of impact on health of family caregivers were family caregiver’s age, patient’s total symptoms, quality of caregiver-care receiver relationship, lack of family support, knowledge of caregiving, and health status after being a caregiver.

Conclusion:  It is vital for nurses to assess family caregivers’ needs and resources and the quality of the family caregiver-care receiver relationship in developing a plan of care that reduces family caregiver burden.